‘This isn’t Rocky’: how in Creed III, Michael B. Jordan took Sylvester Stallone’s legendary franchise and put his own ‘twist and spin’ on it

Creed III marks the directorial debut of the Black Panther actor, who takes the reins of the Rocky franchise as its creator Sylvester Stallone steps away

Starring opposite Jonathon Majors, Jordan says he honours the ‘contract’ with Rocky fans, but explores deeper themes surrounding being ‘a black man in America’

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With Creed 3, Michael B. Jordan has taken the reins of Sylvester Stallone’s franchise and imbued it with themes of personal and cultural significance absent in other Rocky films. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:15pm, 4 Mar 2023

The violent grudge match is over. Adonis Creed, son of former heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, has defeated Viktor Drago, the son of the Russian boxer Ivan Drago – who killed Apollo in the ring almost 40 years ago.

Rocky Balboa, who trained Creed for the bout, regards his fighter with pride and admiration, reaching for a fist-glove bump. As the retired “Italian Stallion” assures the offspring of his former rival in this climactic moment from Creed II, the eighth instalment in the venerable Rocky franchise: “It’s your time.”

Michael B. Jordan understands the sentiment.

Since breaking through in the fact-based Fruitvale Station a decade ago, playing a young man who has a deadly encounter with police, his meteoric rise has paved the way for a gallery of acclaimed performances in projects such as Black Panther, Without Remorse, Just Mercy and the Creed films. On March 1, the actor was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jordan holds a miniature star following his star-unveiling ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on March 1. Photo: AP

With Creed III, the latest chapter in the saga, the phrase takes on a whole new meaning: the film represents the most important – and riskiest – venture of Jordan’s career, taking the reins of Sylvester Stallone’s creation, the most successful sports franchise in film history, and injecting it with themes of personal and cultural significance absent from other Rocky films.