Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via GettyCreed IIIhad not only the biggest opening weekend of the three-movie series, but also made history as the biggest domestic opening for a sports film.Michael B. Jordan’sdirectorial debutgrossed$58.6 million over the weekend, MGM shared, perThe Hollywood Reporter,after grossing $22 million on its premiere date alone.The film — which sees the return of original cast members Jordan, who plays titular character Adonis Creed,Phylicia Rashad(Mary Anne Creed),Tessa Thompson(Adonis' wife, Bianca) and Wood Harris (Adonis' trainer) — is the first of theRockyfranchise to not feature the boxer himself,Sylvester Stallone.“That’s a regretful situation because I know what it could have been,“Stallone toldThe Hollywood Reporterin November. “It was taken in a direction that is quite different than I would’ve taken it.“He furtheralluded to creative differences behind the scenes, telling the outlet, “I’m much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don’t want them going into that dark space.“Creed IIIsees Adonis, Rocky’s former mentee, forced to reconcile with his past as his childhood friend and boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors) is freed from prison and returns ready to get back in the ring.Eli Ade/MGM/Courtesy Everett CollectionFor Jordan, 36, directing the third installment of the series was less daunting than he might have thought, as he reflected on stepping into the character’s shoes for close to a decade.“I finally got to this place in my career where I really wanted to tell a story, you know, and not just be in front of the camera, not just execute somebody else’s vision,” he said during avirtual Q&A in October. “And having a character that I’ve played twice before, you know it’s been 7, 8 years living with this guy, so to be able to tell a story of where I believe Adonis is at.“Maturing also played a factor in his decision. He told reporters, “At 35 years old, I had a lot to say as a young man, as a young Black man, just my life experiences and how I could actually share that, share a piece of myself with the world through these characters and through this story.“Eli Ade/MGM/Courtesy Everett CollectionNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.While there’s no confirmation on a fourth installment ofCreed,the expansion of the Rocky franchise seems imminent.In July 2022,reports came outthat aDragospinoff following the relationship between one of Rocky’s opponents, Ivan Drago, and his son, Viktor Drago, who appeared inCreed 2, was in the works.WhileDolph Lundgren, who played Ivan Drago inRocky IV, confirmed toTHRin 2021 that there was “some talk” at MGM of aDragospinoff, he was quick to retract it once Stallone expressed his “heartbreak” at being left out of the discussion.In an Instagram post, Lundgren was quick to support his longtime friend, writing, “Just to set the record straight regarding a possibleDragospinoff. There’s no approved script, no deals in place, no director and I was personally under the impression that my friend Sly Stallone was involved as a producer or even as an actor.“He went on to assure fans that all was well between him and Stallone: “There was a press leak last week which was unfortunate. In touch with Mr Balboa - just so all the fans can relax… There ya go.”
Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty
Creed IIIhad not only the biggest opening weekend of the three-movie series, but also made history as the biggest domestic opening for a sports film.Michael B. Jordan’sdirectorial debutgrossed$58.6 million over the weekend, MGM shared, perThe Hollywood Reporter,after grossing $22 million on its premiere date alone.The film — which sees the return of original cast members Jordan, who plays titular character Adonis Creed,Phylicia Rashad(Mary Anne Creed),Tessa Thompson(Adonis' wife, Bianca) and Wood Harris (Adonis' trainer) — is the first of theRockyfranchise to not feature the boxer himself,Sylvester Stallone.“That’s a regretful situation because I know what it could have been,“Stallone toldThe Hollywood Reporterin November. “It was taken in a direction that is quite different than I would’ve taken it.“He furtheralluded to creative differences behind the scenes, telling the outlet, “I’m much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don’t want them going into that dark space.“Creed IIIsees Adonis, Rocky’s former mentee, forced to reconcile with his past as his childhood friend and boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors) is freed from prison and returns ready to get back in the ring.Eli Ade/MGM/Courtesy Everett CollectionFor Jordan, 36, directing the third installment of the series was less daunting than he might have thought, as he reflected on stepping into the character’s shoes for close to a decade.“I finally got to this place in my career where I really wanted to tell a story, you know, and not just be in front of the camera, not just execute somebody else’s vision,” he said during avirtual Q&A in October. “And having a character that I’ve played twice before, you know it’s been 7, 8 years living with this guy, so to be able to tell a story of where I believe Adonis is at.“Maturing also played a factor in his decision. He told reporters, “At 35 years old, I had a lot to say as a young man, as a young Black man, just my life experiences and how I could actually share that, share a piece of myself with the world through these characters and through this story.“Eli Ade/MGM/Courtesy Everett CollectionNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.While there’s no confirmation on a fourth installment ofCreed,the expansion of the Rocky franchise seems imminent.In July 2022,reports came outthat aDragospinoff following the relationship between one of Rocky’s opponents, Ivan Drago, and his son, Viktor Drago, who appeared inCreed 2, was in the works.WhileDolph Lundgren, who played Ivan Drago inRocky IV, confirmed toTHRin 2021 that there was “some talk” at MGM of aDragospinoff, he was quick to retract it once Stallone expressed his “heartbreak” at being left out of the discussion.In an Instagram post, Lundgren was quick to support his longtime friend, writing, “Just to set the record straight regarding a possibleDragospinoff. There’s no approved script, no deals in place, no director and I was personally under the impression that my friend Sly Stallone was involved as a producer or even as an actor.“He went on to assure fans that all was well between him and Stallone: “There was a press leak last week which was unfortunate. In touch with Mr Balboa - just so all the fans can relax… There ya go.”
Creed IIIhad not only the biggest opening weekend of the three-movie series, but also made history as the biggest domestic opening for a sports film.
Michael B. Jordan’sdirectorial debutgrossed$58.6 million over the weekend, MGM shared, perThe Hollywood Reporter,after grossing $22 million on its premiere date alone.
The film — which sees the return of original cast members Jordan, who plays titular character Adonis Creed,Phylicia Rashad(Mary Anne Creed),Tessa Thompson(Adonis' wife, Bianca) and Wood Harris (Adonis' trainer) — is the first of theRockyfranchise to not feature the boxer himself,Sylvester Stallone.
“That’s a regretful situation because I know what it could have been,“Stallone toldThe Hollywood Reporterin November. “It was taken in a direction that is quite different than I would’ve taken it.”
He furtheralluded to creative differences behind the scenes, telling the outlet, “I’m much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don’t want them going into that dark space.”
Creed IIIsees Adonis, Rocky’s former mentee, forced to reconcile with his past as his childhood friend and boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors) is freed from prison and returns ready to get back in the ring.
Eli Ade/MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
For Jordan, 36, directing the third installment of the series was less daunting than he might have thought, as he reflected on stepping into the character’s shoes for close to a decade.
“I finally got to this place in my career where I really wanted to tell a story, you know, and not just be in front of the camera, not just execute somebody else’s vision,” he said during avirtual Q&A in October. “And having a character that I’ve played twice before, you know it’s been 7, 8 years living with this guy, so to be able to tell a story of where I believe Adonis is at.”
Maturing also played a factor in his decision. He told reporters, “At 35 years old, I had a lot to say as a young man, as a young Black man, just my life experiences and how I could actually share that, share a piece of myself with the world through these characters and through this story.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
While there’s no confirmation on a fourth installment ofCreed,the expansion of the Rocky franchise seems imminent.
In July 2022,reports came outthat aDragospinoff following the relationship between one of Rocky’s opponents, Ivan Drago, and his son, Viktor Drago, who appeared inCreed 2, was in the works.
WhileDolph Lundgren, who played Ivan Drago inRocky IV, confirmed toTHRin 2021 that there was “some talk” at MGM of aDragospinoff, he was quick to retract it once Stallone expressed his “heartbreak” at being left out of the discussion.
In an Instagram post, Lundgren was quick to support his longtime friend, writing, “Just to set the record straight regarding a possibleDragospinoff. There’s no approved script, no deals in place, no director and I was personally under the impression that my friend Sly Stallone was involved as a producer or even as an actor.”
He went on to assure fans that all was well between him and Stallone: “There was a press leak last week which was unfortunate. In touch with Mr Balboa - just so all the fans can relax… There ya go.”
source: people.com
