Actor Michael B. Jordan will make his directorial debut with the third installment in the successful Creed franchise, MGM has announced. The film, which also brings back Jordan’s costars Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad, has been scheduled for a November 23rd, 2022 release. Jordan follows in the footsteps of Sylvester Stallone, a Golden Globe winner for his performance in the first Creed movie, who took over directing duties for four Rocky films. Ahead of this project, Jordan is set to star in Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse and Denzel Washington’s Journal for Jordan.
Jordan first starred as Adonis Creed, the son of boxer Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers in the original Rocky movies, in 2015’s Creed, which grossed $173 million. Its sequel, Creed II, was an even bigger success, earning $214 million. Creed III will be released by MGM and United Artists Releasing just before Thanksgiving in 2022. Jordan will serve as a producer along with Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Jonathan Glickman, and Ryan Coogler. Executive producers include Adam Rosenberg, Sev Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler.
Coogler, who directed the first film, had kind words to share regarding Jordan’s debut behind the camera on behalf of Proximity Media and his co-writers on the third film, Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin. Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, the chairman and president, respectively, of MGM’s Film Group, praised Jordan’s vision and the opportunity for him to helm the project. Irwin Winkler also conveyed his excitement about Jordan taking on a bigger role in crafting a character he has so vibrantly brought to life.
Jordan shared his own thoughts in a statement: “Directing has always been an aspiration, but the timing had to be right. Creed III is that moment — a time in my life where I’ve grown more sure of who I am, holding agency in my own story, maturing personally, growing professionally, and learning from the Greats like Ryan Coogler, most recently Denzel Washington, and other top tier directors I respect. All of which sets the table for this moment. This franchise and in particular the themes of Creed III are deeply personal to me. I look forward to sharing the next chapter of Adonis Creed’s story with the awesome responsibility of being its director and namesake.”
This news was first reported by Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.