Deadline’s Read the Screenplay series spotlighting the year’s most talked-about scripts continues with Creed III, the newest installment of the Rocky spinoff series that has Michael B Jordan at the helm both in front of and behind the camera.
Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin took writing credits on the screenplay for the film (Kennan’s brother Ryan, who directed and co-wrote the first Creed, worked with them on the story), marking Jordan’s first feature as director. It hit theaters in March and broke numerous records from the opening bell, scoring the biggest opening weekend in the U.S. ($58.6 million) for any movie in the Rocky franchise, for distributor Amazon, and for any other sports movie ever. The MGM/United Artists pic grossed $100.4 million globally in its first frame and $275.2M overall.
Fans of the franchise clicked with the plot, which finds champ Adonis Creed (Jordan) thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy Damian (Jonathan Majors) resurfaces after serving a long prison sentence, he is eager to prove he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight, and Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose.
Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Mila Davis-Kent and Florian Munteanu also starred.
Creed III’s success secured broader plans to expand the franchise. Producer Irwin Winkler broke news at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event saying Creed IV is in the works with Jordan back to star and direct. That followed Deadline’s report that a Creed-Verse is in the works that could include an anime series connected to the Rocky spinoff IP; a companion live-action TV series; a potential project centering on Adonis Creed’s daughter Amara played by deaf actress Davis-Kent in Creed III; and a previously percolating Drago spinoff featuring franchise regular Munteanu.
In the meantime, click below to read the Creed III script.
