Sylvester Stallone Steps In The Ring To Direct ‘Creed 2’

When “Creed” arrived two years ago, it proved that the “Rocky” franchise had plenty of life left in it, particularly if you put Sylvester Stallone to the side. Ryan Coogler wrote the script and directed the film which brought a fresh energy to the boxing series, and charisma with Michael B. Jordan leading the way. A big hit commercially and critically, a sequel has long been in the works, but as more time has passed, Stallone has made it clear he wanted to be back in the saddle. And he’s getting his way.

Stallone has announced he will be producing and directing “Creed 2,” in addition to writing the screenplay. The actor and filmmaker has spent a good part of the year drumming up excitement about the movie, revealing that the film will connect with “Rocky IV,” and possibly involve Ivan Drago in some capacity.

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However, one person who has stayed curiously silent about all this is Coogler. You might recall that the director had some different ideas about what he wanted to do in the sequel. “Ryan has some ideas of going forward and backward and actually seeing Rocky and Apollo together,” Stallone said in 2016. “Think of ‘The Godfather 2.’ That’s what he was thinking of, which was kind of ambitious.”

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Frankly, I’m far less excited about “Creed 2” with Stallone directing, and online, there is similar sentiment brewing. Filming is expected to kick off in 2018, and Stallone will have to prove he can keep pushing the “Rocky” franchise forward, instead of dragging it back into the past.

Hiring Sly to direct CREED 2 is a great way of proving you have no idea why CREED was so good.

— Peter Atencio (@Atencio) October 10, 2017