After previously ending on what many would regard as the perfect note to retire on, the “Rocky” franchise roared back to life with 2015’s ” Creed”, which shifted the focus to Adonis, the son of the Italian Stallion’s old pal, Apollo Creed. Now, “Hollywood Donnie” is ready to step back into the ring once more for his biggest fight yet in the upcoming “Creed II”, which has recently released its new trailer that you can see below!
For the sequel, Steven Caple Jr. steps into the director’s chair following the first film’s auteur, Ryan Coogler, who himself would go on to direct series’ star Michael B. Jordan in the 2018 superhero hit, “Black Panther”. The official synopsis of the film gives viewers a glimpse of what “Creed II” has in store:
“Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what is worth fighting for, and discover that nothing is more important than family.”
Even without taking a gander at the trailer, it’s crystal clear that “Creed II” is even more heavily swept up in the nostalgia of the “Rocky” series than its predecessor. Not only will the film see Dolph Lundgren return to the role as the fearsome Russian boxer Ivan Drago, the film’s heavy will be none other than Drago’s own son, Viktor, played by Florian Munteanu.
While there are currently no specifics on the details of how Donnie and Drago go head-to-head in the ring, “Creed II” appears to be positioning itself almost as much a direct sequel to “Rocky IV” as to its immediate predecessor. “Creed” itself ties the most directly into Ivan Drago’s debut into the franchise with its introduction of Donnie born out of Apollo’s death at the hands of Ivan Drago in that film.
With the sequel setting Donnie up for something of a revenge match against the son of his father’s killer, “Creed II” could end up as both a blast of nostalgia and a companion piece to “Rocky IV”. And if the boxing fights are even half as good as those of “Creed”, particularly the outstanding single-take shot of Donnie’s first professional match, “Creed II” could well be the heavyweight contender for fans of the series!
“Creed II” is set to hit theaters on November 21st. What are your initial impressions on the film, what are your favourite boxing bouts and moments from the “Rocky” franchise? Let us know in the comments below; Like, share and join in the conversation with us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram. (Be sure to check out KFK’s FU-riffic news section, along with our official review of “Creed” and this colourful countdown of 10 of the best Rocky movie fights!)
