Good news for fans of Rocky, Creed, and superstar Michael B. Jordan: Filming on Creed II is officially underway. The news was shared by the boxing-movie franchise creator Sylvester Stallone himself by way of a behind-the-scenes video he shared over social media. Don't expect too much in this video except for a brief anecdote about just how far Sly has come since Rocky back in 1976, but it's a good sign that the Steven Caple Jr. film is gearing up for its highly anticipated release later this year.

Written by Stallone and Cheo Hodari Coker (Luke Cage) and taking direct inspiration from Ryan Coogler's 2015 awards-worthy pic, Creed II will see Jordan return as Adonis Johnson, son of Apollo Creed, to continue his training under Rocky Balboa in order to prep for what's sure to be a brutal fight against Vitor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Tessa Thompson also returns as Adonis' love interest, Bianca, and Coogler is on board as an executive producer. Look for the film on November 21st.

Check out Sly's behind-the-scenes share below:

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An update from MGM and Warner Bros. includes the film's official synopsis:

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.

 

Also reprising their roles from the first film are Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne, Wood Harris as Tony 'Little Duke' Burton, and Andre Ward as Danny 'Stuntman' Wheeler. The new cast is rounded out with Russell Hornsby as Buddy Marcelle.

 

For more on Creed 2, be sure to get caught up with the following write-ups:

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Image via MGM