“[Michael B. Jordan] is directing the next Creed. It’s going to be ammo,” Tessa Thompson revealed in an interview late last year. And the news had been in the air for a while. Jordan, the star of “Creed” and “Creed II,” the successful spin-off from the “Rocky” movies, was hoping he would direct the third film in the boxing franchise.
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Now, it’s official. MGM announced today that Jordan would make his directorial debut with the new film. And the faith in his abilities is high’ the film will be released in theaters on Nov. 23, 2022, during Thanksgiving weekend, an important theatergoing frame.
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“Directing has always been an aspiration, but the timing had to be right. ‘Creed III’ is that moment — a time in my life where I’ve grown more sure of who I am, holding agency in my own story, maturing personally, growing professionally, and learning from the greats like Ryan Coogler, most recently Denzel Washington, and other top tier directors I respect. All of which sets the table for this moment,” Jordan said in a statement (via Variety).
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Jordan taking over the directorial reigns of “Creed III,” marks the third different filmmaker in the series. Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther“) directed the first one, marking the debut of the “Rocky” spinoff franchise with Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed, named Adonis Creed. The sequel was then handed off to Stephen Caple Jr, still exec-produced by Coogler, who directed the follow-up.
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All the franchise cast members are expected to return, including Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad. The third installment will be written by Keenan Coogler (“Space Jam: A New Legacy”) and Zach Baylin (“King Richard”), based on an outline by Ryan Coogler. Curiously, Sylvester Stallone is mostly absent from the MGM announcement other than Jordan lauding him in quotes. “Creed II” definitely hinted at finally passing the torch of the franchise without the actor, so maybe “Creed III” will finally go there.
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It’s a big move for a studio to give a boxing blockbuster franchise to a first-time director, let-alone its star, especially given how well directed the first two “Creed” films were. Still, presumably, Jordan is really going to surround himself with a good crew and put in the homework in advance.