Michael B. Jordan has spoken about the change in director for Creed II and how it has influenced the film.
Creed, the boxing spinoff film from the Rocky franchise, directed by Ryan Coogler, was a big hit with fans and critics. A sequel is just about to land in cinemas but there has been a change for the sequel with Coogler being succeeded in the director’s chair by Steven Caple Jr.
Has the switch up in director impacting things in any significant way? Well, not according to Michael B. Jordan, who recently sat down with Screen Rant, telling them that both director’s visions are aligned:
“I think everybody’s vision kind of lines up. I think everybody wants to make a great movie, a 360 film with fleshed out characters and that pays attention to all the thematics; The family, the legacy, what are you fighting for, that theme is really really important. I feel like Steven brings a very gritty, indie…but yet he loves sound, he loves the colors, you know, he comes from a very personal place of storytelling. All of his films are very personal. So, it has to be something that connects with him deep inside for him to get behind it, so this is definitely something that he connected with. And you can definitely tell on screen.”
Are you disappointed that Ryan Coogler didn’t return for Creed II? Let us know in the comments below.
SEE ALSO: Read our review of Creed II here
Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.
Creed II is set for release on November 21st in the US and on November 30th in the UK and sees Steven Caple Jr. directing a cast that includes Michael B. Jordan (Adonis Creed), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa), Tessa Thompson (Bianca), Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago), Florian Munteanu (Viktor Drago), Phylicia Rashad (Mary Anne), Wood Harris (Tony ‘Little Duke’ Evers), Andre Ward (Danny ‘Stuntman’ Wheeler), Brigitte Nielsen (Ludmila Drago), Milo Ventimiglia (Rocky Balboa Jr.) and Russell Hornsby (Buddy Marcelle).