Tessa Thompson will return for Creed 3, reprising her role as Bianca Taylor. Premiering in 2015, Creed was both a sequel and a spinoff of the Rocky franchise. It focused on Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan). Not knowing his famous father Apollo Creed, as the boxing champion died before Adonis was born, Jordan’s character turns to the retired Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to be his trainer. Creed also featured Thompson as Bianca, an aspiring singer who is diagnosed with progressive hearing loss.
The first Creed, directed by Ryan Coogler, was a massive hit, both financially and in terms of critical acclaim. Following a similarly successful sequel, which premiered in 2018, a third installment has been highly-anticipated. It was announced in October that Creed 3 would be moving forward, with Jordan slated to direct the film in his feature-length directorial debut. Little is known about the project, which is planned to begin filming late in 2021, but Thompson will be part of the cast.
While being interviewed by MTV News about her new movie Sylvie’s Love, Thompson was asked about the fact that Jordan was recently named as the Sexiest Man Alive. The actress joked that she’s not quite sure how to process her co-star’s impressive new title, admitting that she’ll be thinking of ways to tease him about it. As she spoke, Thompson revealed that she would be returning for Creed 3. Her quote has been transcribed below.
“I haven’t talked to him about it because I’m going to pretend it hasn’t happened. I don’t want—we’re going to make another ‘Creed’ very soon, and I don’t need this. I don’t need the Sexiest Man Alive to be, you know what I mean? I just don’t need it. I don’t need any of it. It’s a lot. It’s too much for me to shoulder. It’s too much for me to handle. No, I’m proud of him. I’m so happy for him. And I will give him a lot of crap about it in person, and I cannot wait.”
In the previous two Creed films, Bianca has been both a source of conflict and support for Adonis. Though she disagrees with his occasionally impulsive actions, leading to a temporary strain in their relationship, she is ultimately by his side in some of his most difficult moments. Their bond is strengthened in Creed II, as Adonis proposes and Bianca gives birth to a baby girl named Amara. Bianca is last seen with Adonis and Amara at Apollo’s grave. But the character has her own triumphs and struggles which go beyond being a love interest. Given that Thompson is set to reprise her role in Creed 3, the film could delve deeper into Bianca’s singing career as she also stares down her progressive hearing loss.
Thompson’s performance itself has been praised, with reviewers noting that the actress helped to highlight the heart of the story beyond its predictable sports drama elements. It’s obvious from Thompson’s comments in the interview that she feels quite comfortable working with Jordan, which comes through in the chemistry between Bianca and Adonis. As he prepares to take the director’s chair for the first time with Creed 3, fans can look forward to Jordan collaborating with Thompson to find new ways of exploring the romantic couple at the story’s center.