The Rocky franchise has been a staple of American film and inspired millions around the world for the past 40 years.
“Creed” takes a new perspective to the franchise by placing the focus on a young, up-and-coming fighter with family ties to one of the most prolific characters from past films. Written by Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directed the first film of the franchise not written by Sylvester Stallone, introduces the character of Adonis Creed, Apollo Creed’s son, played by Michael B. Jordan.
For those who are familiar with Jordan’s work, they will see a bulked-up version of the actor in this film. Thanks to a strict diet of chicken, vegetables, brown rice, a gallon and a half of water per day and an intensive training regiment for a year, a ring-ready Jordan graces the screen. This transformation came for an actor who had to gain weight for his role in “Fruitvale Station”, the first film Jordan and Coogler teamed up on, because his director wanted Jordan to look like “a normal guy”.
The story pairs up Creed, who is trying to make it in the boxing world, with Rocky Balboa, his father’s rival and then eventual friend, a role Sylvester Stallone reprised for the film.
“Creed” hits theaters on Thanksgiving.
Jordan Hamm
