Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Creed 3!
A Creed 3 deleted scene from the trailers teased a potential alternate ending where Adonis visits a juvenile prison. The third Creed movie largely revolves around Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed as he is brought back into the ring to fight his former childhood friend Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors). The hard-hitting and emotional confrontation between them is the focus of Creed 3's ending, as the two men resolve feelings that have festered for years. While the epic fight is the centerpiece of the movie's conclusion, the story does continue briefly to show the aftermath of the fight between Adonis and Dame.
It is in this part of Creed 3's ending that additional storylines are resolved, while others are set up for the future. This includes Dame and Adonis forgiving each other, allowing them to be friends again in a potential sequel. Meanwhile, Creed 3 puts a big focus on Amara, Adonis' daughter, in the closing moments. She pretends to fight her father in the ring, teasing that she could be the new lead of the franchise. The movie ends on a note that potentially teases Adonis retiring as he walks away from the ring. While Creed 3 does not take the ending any further, a deleted scene teases an alternate plan.
Creed 3 Trailers Showed Adonis Visiting A Juvenile Prison
The Creed 3 trailers included a deleted scene where Adonis and his family visit a juvenile prison. It is only a brief scene that the trailer includes, but it shows Adonis, Amara, and Bianca sitting at a table in the juvenile hall. They are the only people in the seating area, but the Creed 3 deleted scene showed all the young men held at the facility on the upper level and chanting Adonis' name. There is no specific context provided for where the prison visit would fit into the movie. However, the signs point to it possibly being part of the film's original ending.
For much of Creed 3, Adonis is hesitant to talk about his feelings and his past. This is the result of Dame re-entering his life and bringing back memories of the group home they were raised in, which preceded Adonis spending time in a juvenile prison before Mary Anne found him. It is only later on in the movie that Adonis begins to open up. The kids chanting Creed's name repeatedly could also be a sign that this scene happens after the Creed 3 fight with Damian for the world heavyweight championship.
How Creed 3’s Deleted Scene Could Have Improved The Ending
If Creed 3's deleted prison scene was meant to be part of the ending, it could have made the movie's ending even better. This scene would be an example of Adonis learning to accept his past more and embrace the various connections he has to the prison system. The Creed 3 deleted scene could show Adonis' growth and willingness to share with Amara, Bianca, and maybe the world about his upbringing. Considering his time in a juvenile hall and Dame's time in prison, the Creed 3 alternate ending teased with this deleted scene could have even seen Adonis work to help other kids in similar positions as he was.