Nice 2 See You Again
It’s been three years since Michael B Jordan’s breakout into the mainstream with Creed — a continuation of the Rocky franchise — and while he’s been busy with films like Black Panther and Fahrenheit 451, it’s finally time for the star’s first ever sequel in Creed II.
So what’s necessary to bring Adonis Creed back to the big screen? A workout routine, for one: “I’m not saying I’m old by any means, but the process of getting in shape was a bit harder for Creed II,” says Jordan, “I’m probably the biggest I’ve ever been… But I knew I was fighting someone who is a lot bigger than I am, so I wanted to try and catch up as best I could, and I killed myself in the gym to do that”.
But it’s not just about the physical side of things. How do you embody the emotions and struggles of the character? “You just want to be as real as possible,” say Jordan, “You did all the homework up to that point, you’ve figured out who this guy was, where he came from, what he wants, what he doesn’t like. You know, and you can kind of use that as a board to make decisions and choices in scenes”.
Creed II digs deep into Adonis Creed’s relationships with his late father, his mentor Rocky (Sylvester Stallone), and his role as a new father with his partner Bianca (Tessa Thompson). It’s this kind of family building that makes for an ever evolving franchise, but will there ever be a Creed VI just as there was a Rocky VI? Jordan thinks it’s possible: “If I’m lucky. I want to keep making them as long as they’re good. I always want to keep my finger on the pulse. Forty two years, I mean, who knows?”
