Creed - New Year Preview

by Helen Earnshaw | 31 December 2015

When it comes to boxing movies, the one that always springs to mind is Rocky... and the franchise is set to continue in the New Year as we are introduced to a new generation of fighter.

Creed

Creed really does look set to be one of the sports movies not to miss next year as Sylvester Stallone returns to the iconic role of Rocky Balboa - however, it is not his boxing journey that we are going to be following.

This time around, we are going to follow the story of Adonis Johnson, the son of the late Apollo Creed, who has followed his father into the boxing ring. And it will be Rocky by his side as he becomes trainer and mentor to the young fighter.

Creed will mark the return of Michael B Jordan to the big screen as he takes on the central role of Adonis - it will be the first time that Jordan has teamed up with Stallone. Jordan has seen his star rise rapidly over the last couple of years and Creed is a film that will see it rise even further.

The movie will see the actor reunite with filmmaker Ryan Coogler; the duo first worked together on Fruitvale Station - which proved to be the breakthrough project for both actor and director.

Coogler is a director well and truly on the rise and Creed will be his first film since he enjoyed success with Fruitvale Stations back in 2013. As well as being in the director's chair for Creed, Coogler has also teamed up with Aaron Covington to pen the film's screenplay.

Creed will be the seventh film in the Rocky film series and will be the first since Rocky Balboa back in 2007. I don't know about you, but I am excited to see this iconic character return to the big screen and take on a very different role.

A great cast has been assembled for the film as Stallone and Jordan are joined by Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, and Anthony Bellew.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there's no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed's legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo - the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

The Rocky franchise has been one of the best sporting film series and Creed looks set to be a great addition to that already fine franchise.