Ryan Coogler and his “Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan are reteaming for “Creed,” a spinoff of the “Rocky” franchise that will focus on the grandson of Apollo Creed, an individual close to the project told TheWrap.
“Creed” will be the sophomore effort for the director, whose profile rocketed in Park City this January when “Fruitvale Station” won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance.
Jordan will play the grandson of Creed, Rocky Balboa’s nemesis in the 1976 original.
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Sylvester Stallone is said to be reprising his "Rocky" role but won’t be back in the ring — at least not competitively. He'll take on the role of Creed's trainer. He will also produce, along with Kevin King and original “Rocky” producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff.
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The logline is still sketchy, but it will center on Jordan, who essentially overcomes a privileged childhood — his famous boxing grandfather dies in “Rocky 4” but left a fortune behind — to discover his own pugilistic prowess. He seeks a trainer in Balboa, who’s not too keen on getting back into the fight game.