MGM is continuing to mine its library for ideas for future projects and it just found a new one - Creed, a Rocky spin-off about the grandson of Rocky Balboa’s rival Apollo Creed. According to a report, the film could star Fruitvale Station’s Michael B. Jordan and would be helmed by that film’s first-time director, Ryan Coogler.
The surprising news comes from Deadline, which notes that Sylvester Stallone would play Rocky, who is now retired and a trainer. Coogler will co-write the script with Aaron Covington.
Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff will return to produce with Stallone and Kevin King.
Deadline notes that this is a dream project for Coogler, whose Fruitvale Station has won rave reviews and is currently in limited release. After that film came together, he signed with WME and said that he had a passion for trying to make Creed. So, the agency had him meet Stallone and the ball got rolling. They went to MGM and they liked it.
The plot for Creed would find Jordan as Creed’s grandson, who doesn’t have to box because of Creed’s wealth. However, he still has the natural talent to be a boxer and asks Rocky to be his mentor.
According to Hitfix, Jordan got noticed with roles in Friday Night Lights and The Wire. He also appeared in Fox’s Chronicle.