Last year, word broke that Michael B. Jordan could be stepping into a second role for the third Creed film – that of director. He's now confirmed that he'll be calling the shots and sticking around to star for the third time.
Creed III will catch up with Jordan's Adonis "Creed" Johnson, son of fallen boxing champ Apollo Creed and his continuing efforts to pursue his career while caring for his family, which includes wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and daughter. Keenan Coogler, brother of original Creed writer/director Ryan, is writing the script from a story that they worked up.
"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 says in a statement. "This franchise and in particular the themes of Creed III are deeply personal to me. I look forward to sharing the next chapter of Adonis Creed’s story with the awesome responsibility of being its director and namesake." The one element yet to be confirmed? Sylvester Stallone, who has brought Rocky to both previous movies.
MGM has now scheduled the film for release – in the US, at least – on 23 November next year.