- "Creed III": A boxing drama, featuring no Rocky, airing on ProSieben, continues the "Rocky" series.
Following his retirement from boxing as Rocky, the "Rocky" franchise persisted. In 2016, a popular spin-off of the iconic series, "Creed," was introduced. Initially, Adonis, the son of Sylvester Stallone's deceased friend Apollo Creed, was trained by him. The series has since evolved into a trilogy with "Creed III" in 2023, airing on ProSieben at 8:15 PM on September 1. However, Rocky himself is not involved this time around.
Stallone, who served as a producer for "Creed III," but not the lead producer, voiced his concerns about a "regrettable situation" to The Hollywood Reporter. "A different path was chosen than I would have chosen," the star lamented. "I'm more of a sentimental type. I enjoy seeing my heroes face adversity, but I don't want it to be overly bleak for them. I just feel like people have enough darkness in their lives."
Dark Past
Stallone likely referred to Adonis Creed's (Michael B. Jordan) troubled past. In "Creed III," he must grapple with a shady episode from his youth that he'd rather forget.
Having left boxing behind, Adonis lives with his wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and daughter Amara (Mila Davis-Kent) in a lavish Hollywood Hills mansion. He now trains and promotes the next generation of world-class boxers, including his rising star Felix Chavez (real-life boxer José Benavidez).
One day, an old friend turns up at his training facility. Damian (Jonathan Majors), once projected to be the next big boxing sensation, ended up serving 18 years in prison after an incident involving Adonis as a teenager.
Driven by a burning ambition to make it as a boxer, Damian demands a title fight against Chavez. Struggling with guilt, Adonis agrees. Soon, he realizes that Damian resorts to underhanded tactics both in the ring and in life, leading to a rift between the two friends. Naturally, this conflict can only be resolved in the boxing ring.
"Rocky IV" Echoes
The reason for Rocky's absence from Adonis' life is not revealed in the film. However, he lives on – not just in the German subtitle "Rocky's Legacy." A lengthy training sequence pays homage to "Rocky IV." And a "No Easy Way Out" moment is reminiscent of the series' origins.
The 1980s film about Rocky's confrontation with Russian boxer Ivan Drago served as inspiration for "Creed II" and returns in the third installment through Drago's son Viktor (Florian Munteanu).
Film composer Joseph Shirley and sound designer Ludwig Göransson ("The Mandalorian," "Tenet") incorporates Bill Conti's iconic music into the film's score, with a notable scene featuring "Going The Distance" from the original "Rocky" film. Nostalgic moments like these should also please Stallone. In fact, Stallone might not have much to object to about the final product. "Creed III" might not be dark, but it certainly tugs at the heartstrings.
Directorial debutant Michael B. Jordan delivers a conventional and straightforward take on the boxing drama. Although you can see the climax coming most of the time, the film remains enjoyable and occasionally thrilling. "Creed III" is not a masterclass in cinema, but another satisfying chapter in this lengthy film series. It's a bit hard to concede, but the "Rocky" saga continues to thrive without Rocky. Apologies, Sly!
For 1 September, "Creed III" featuring Adonis Creed and his rival Damian will air on ProSieben at 8:15 PM. Stallone, who voiced his concerns about the film's direction, may find solace in the film's nostalgic moments and tribute to "Rocky IV".
