Michael B. Jordan explains why Creed 3 is the perfect project to serve as his directorial debut. Back in 2015, Jordan teamed up with star Sylvester Stallone and director Ryan Coogler for the first Creed movie, which brought the Rocky franchise back to prominence. Shifting the focus to Jordan's character Adonis Johnson, Apollo Creed's son, Creed was a critical and box office success, netting a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Stallone. 2018's Creed II was also a big hit, paving the way for a third installment. Creed 3 is set for a November 2022 release.
Stallone has already confirmed Rocky Balboa won't be returning in Creed 3, as he has now passed the torch to Jordan moving forward. Another way Jordan is following in Stallone's footsteps on the movie is the fact he's directing. Stallone helmed several of the original Rocky installments, and now Jordan is moving behind the camera for his debut. He's excited to take what he's learned over the course of his career and bring it to Creed 3.
Speaking with Esquire, Jordan opened up about why he feels Creed 3 is the best film for his first directorial effort. He discussed his history with the series as well as helpful tips he's learned from others in the industry:
"It’s the only character that I’m coming back to play three times. It’s a world that I know. I know the process to shoot these movies. I know the character. And I have a clear vision of where I want the world to go. Everything kind of panned out for me to step behind the camera on this one, so I’m running towards it. And definitely a lot of knowledge and a lot of gems of wisdom and tips from everybody—from most recently Denzel [Washington], to Ryan, to David O. Russell, Ben Affleck, Stefano. I’ve been slowly learning. I’m a sponge, so I’m always learning from project to project, and it’s all been slowly preparing me for this moment."
Jordan's personal connection to Creed and the Rocky universe certainly makes him a good fit for the directing job. He understands the characters and world better than most having been involved with the franchise for so long, so it will be exciting to see what he brings to the table on Creed 3. The previous two films were known for balancing genuine character drama with well-crafted fight scenes, and it'll be up to Jordan to keep that forward momentum going. In the past, Jordan's mentioned he'd be interested in making more Creed movies as long as they're good, meaning Creed 3 could be the first of many he calls the shots on. Recently, Jordan's expanded his horizons by producing a variety of projects, such as Without Remorse and Creed II, experiences that helped him prepare for directing.
It's encouraging to hear Jordan's been "slowly learning" about working behind-the-scenes, indicating he isn't rushing into something he isn't ready for. Obviously, directing and starring in the same movie is a monumental task, but it sounds like Jordan took his time and didn't decide to make that jump until the right opportunity presented itself. Even if he was just acting in Creed 3, it's a project he is very passionate about, and that enthusiasm should translate onscreen. Ideally, Creed 3 will join the ranks of the best directorial debuts when it comes out next year.
Source: Esquire
