The project first announced back in 2013, pre-production is moving forward on Creed, a feature film spinoff of the Rocky franchise. Today, Deadline reveals that the film has set Tessa Thompson (Dear White People, When a Stranger Calls) to star opposite Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan.
Creed follows Jordan as the grandson of Apollo Creed. Stallone is planning to reprise his Rocky Balboa role, acting as the younger Creed’s reluctant trainer. The elder Creed, played by Carl Weathers, appeared in the first four Rocky films until a fight with Ivan Drago in Rocky IV led to his death in the ring.
Thompson, who will play Creed‘s female lead, can next be seen as part of the ensemble cast of Ava DuVernay’s powerful Martin Luther King Jr. biopic Selma.
Fruitvale Station writer/director Ryan Coogler is drafting Creed alongside Aaron Covington. Stallone will also produce, alongside Robert Chartoff, Kevin King and Irwin Winkler.
(Photo Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN.com)
