Creed III is directed by Michael B. Jordan. Screenplay by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin. Story by Ryan Coogler, Keenan Coogler, and Zach Baylin. Based on characters created by Sylvester Stallone. Produced by Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Elizabeth Raposo, Jonathan Glickman, and Sylvester Stallone.
Following the steps of Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) in the original Rocky film, Creed (Michael B. Jordan) and Dame (Jonathan Majors) also need to fight to prove their worth. Both characters are at different stages in their lives, but they need a common ground to settle their differences. Guilt and feelings of being left behind set the stage for an exceptional drama with the world of boxing as the background.
The movie delves into different universal themes that appeal to a wide audience. Family dynamics, cheering for the underdog, and overcoming difficult challenges in life are relatable experiences that shape the latest installment of the franchise. Even though these themes have been used many times over, Creed III excels in integrating them into the story to reverberate in people’s hearts and minds, as they portray the very nature of human society.
Another moving message captured by the film is adapting to change when things don’t go your way. For Bianca (Tessa Thompson), she had to quit performing as a singer—her passion in life—due to hearing loss. Adjusting to her new reality and making the best of what she has left, she becomes a music producer instead, a less protagonist role in the music industry.
Another factor that makes the story to travel is the use of different languages: English, Spanish, sign language to communicate with Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), and the unique language of boxing. Training, sparring, how fights are set up, and what drives a boxer to fight are elements featured in this film. To add a touch of reality, Creed III features the following professional boxers: Canelo Álvarez, Florian Munteanu, Tony Bellew, José Benavides Jr., and Teófimo López.
In his role of director and as a homage to an attribute of Anime, Jordan has Creed and Dame go through a quiet space for an internal conversation during the intensity of their title fight. This visual technique highlights the complex relationship between the two characters, adding a powerful emotional effect to the fighting sequence.
Jordan demonstrates that he is a tour de force in the prestigious world of cinema. In Creed III, he serves as actor, director, and producer, three of the most demanding roles in filmmaking. Jordan delivers an exciting and engaging story, keeping the spirit of the original Rocky film alive and still leaving room for more expansion of the franchise.
Creed III
Directed by Michael B. Jordan. Screenplay by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin. Story by Ryan Coogler, Keenan Coogler, and Zach Baylin. Based on characters created by Sylvester Stallone. Produced by Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Elizabeth Raposo, Jonathan Glickman, and Sylvester Stallone.
Production companies: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Proximity Media, and Outlier Society.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (North America). Warner Bros. Pictures (International).
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad.
Creative team: Cinematography by Kramer Morgenthau. Edited by Tyler Nelson and Jessica Baclesse. Music by Joseph Shirley.
