As an incredibly cinematic sport, boxing films are often rife with clichés. So then, what a welcome surprise it was to have a “Rocky” movie that actually delivered the thrills and goosebumps that made the original 1976 film so great. Although the story might be familiar, Ryan Coogler‘s “Creed” had a freshness and vitality that only a young, talented filmmaker and actor could bring to the table. Coogler and his lead Michael B Jordan, fresh off their Sundance triumph just two years ago with “Fruitvale Station,” infused Rocky with 21st century modernism and style that Sylvester Stallone would have never been able to pull off if he were the writer-director, although I will say that 2006’s “Rocky Balboa” wasn’t half-bad either.
The way Coogler shot “Creed” brought some much-needed new blood to the tired boxing genre; a perfect example would be the way he reinvented how a boxing match could be shot. There’s an audacious sequence midway through the film that seamlessly flows as a single unbroken shot — the scene follows Jordan’s Adonis Creed as he squares off against Leo Sporino (Gabe Rosado) in the boxing ring. The way Coogler’s camera circles its way through the ring is breathtaking; never had a cinematic boxing match felt this intimate, visceral or gut-wrenching than during this sequence. You felt every punch in the fights featured in “Creed” and it all but cemented Coogler as an incredible talent to watch.
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A sequel was inevitable, so it comes as no surprise that Stallone has confirmed it through his Instagram. What’s more interesting than the expected confirmation is who will be returning for it: Ivan Drago. That’s right, “Rocky IV‘s” villain will be back for the upcoming, and much anticipated “Creed” sequel.
“It wouldn’t be a party without Drago would it?” Stallone told TMZ. “I’m gonna punch him. You know I gotta hit Drago once.”
This all probably means that Dolph Lundgren, who plays Drago, will also star in the film. Stallone stated that the current draft he is working on, in a spiral scrapbook no less, is 439 pages and will translate to “a 120 page typed screenplay.” I do wonder if any of those pages will include dialogue courtesy of Drago himself since he had exactly 4 short lines of dialogue in all of “Rocky IV,” including the much quoted: “I will break you.” Has Drago’s English improved in the 32 years since he last fought Balboa?
There is no start date currently set for the film. “Creed 2” was supposed to start earlier but had to be delayed due to Ryan Coogler working on Marvel’s “Black Panther,” which also stars Jordan. Either way, it looks like Stallone is eager to get back in the ring.
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