The trailer for Creed III debunks a big theory about Damian, the new villain played by Jonathan Majors. Creed III is directed by Michael B. Jordan, who also stars as Adonis Creed. Tessa Thompson also returns as his wife, Bianca, as does Wood Harris as Adonis' trainer, Tony. However, Creed III will be the first Rocky film/spinoff where Sylvester Stallone will not appear as Rocky Balboa, although Sly remains on board as executive producer.
When Jonathan Majors was cast as Creed III's villain, the rumor spread that Damian would be revealed as the son of Clubber Lang (Mr. T). This followed suit to how Creed II was essentially a sequel to Rocky IV where Adonis fought Viktor Drago (Florian Muntenau), the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). However, Creed III's trailer apparently debunks this, showing that Damian is a childhood friend of Adonis' who was just released from prison after 18 years. While this doesn't mean that Dame couldn't be Clubber Lang's son or relative, it appears that Creed III is going another path and will be about Donnie's best friend from his youth turning into his most bitter enemy.
Why It's Better Creed 3's Villain Isn't Related To Clubber Lang
Creed III telling a personal story about jealousy and a broken friendship between Damian and Adonis is smarter than shoehorning Dame being related to another Rocky legacy character. The fact that Rocky Balboa isn't in the film helpfully allows Creed III to finally stand on its own and not be so overly reliant on Rocky and his supporting cast. Although Viktor Drago does also appear in Creed III, at least he has a history with Adonis that is separate from Rocky's ancient rivalry with Ivan Drago.
It is interesting, however, that Damian's history echoes Clubber Lang's. Clubber's backstory was that he was a former ex-con who became a professional fighter, and he was driven by his own seething jealousy and loathing of Rocky Balboa. It seems like Creed III is at least borrowing aspects of Clubber Lang's template for Damian while creating the perfect antithesis to Adonis Creed, which is the smarter move. And even if Creed III reveals Dame is related to the villainous Clubber Lang, at least his animosity with Donnie comes from personal reasons and not because he wants revenge for Rocky beating Clubber Lang decades ago.
What Else We Know About Jonathan Majors' Creed 3 Villain
Jonathan Majors' Damian seems specifically designed as an ideal enemy for Adonis Creed. Dame was incarcerated for 18 years and, in Creed III's trailer, Bianca notices something is wrong with her husband in regard to Damian. Donnie is so rattled by Dame's return that the heavyweight champion must be keeping a secret about Damian. It's possible Dame took the rap for Adonis when they were kids, and this is why he now wants to take everything his famous and successful former best friend has.
Mr. T is not confirmed to appear in Creed III, but there is the question of who trains Damian to fight Adonis. It's possible Viktor Drago becomes Dame's corner man unless the Russian has made peace with Donnie and stands with his former opponent. Perhaps Damian really just embodies familiar elements of Clubber Lang but isn't directly related to the ruthless ex-champ. But Damian evoking Clubber, the unforgettable villain of Rocky III, may be enough of an homage for Creed III.
Creed III releases in theaters on March 3, 2023.