Warner Bros. has released a new Creed featurette for director Ryan Coogler's new installment in the long-running Rocky franchise. The film, which acts as a bit of a soft reboot, Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, the son of world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. When Adonis decides he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, he heads to Philadelphia and lures Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) out of retirement to help him train.

The behind-the-scenes look gives a little insight into the origin of this new spin on Rocky's story, and highlights the emotional, generational approach Coogler brings to the material. Inspired by his relationship with his father, who raised him watching Rocky 2 on the regular, Coogler crafted a personal story that carries on the legacy of Rocky while launching a franchise in a new direction. Check it out in featurette below.


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Image via Warner Bros.

Creed opens Novembers 25th. Here’s the official synopsis.

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures comes award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s “Creed.”  The film explores a new chapter in the “Rocky” story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role.  The film also reunites Coogler with his “Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed.

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.

 

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

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