In the summer of 2022, a new film in the Rocky cinematic universe was announced to be in development at MGM. Drago was to be a spinoff centered on Creed II antagonist Viktor Drago and his father Ivan, who was Rocky Balboa’s formidable opponent in the 1985 film Rocky IV. Creed II’s Florian Munteanu was to return as Viktor, with original Ivan Drago actor Dolph Lundgren (whose Ivan Drago was missing in Creed III after also appearing in Creed II) said to be reprising his role yet again.

Unfortunately, the announcement sparked a conflict, with Rocky creator Sylvester Stallone voicing his anger that a new Rocky movie was in the works without his knowledge. Dolph Lundgren took to Instagram shortly after to make amends, stating that he was under the impression that Stallone had in fact been involved. News on the Drago front has since been relatively quiet until Lundgren shared intriguing story details during a recent interview with Screen Rant for his new film The Best Man. Here’s what he had to say:

Yeah, MGM has a project on the books. There's been a script that nobody really liked. Now, they're, as far as I know, looking for new writer, and to try to tap back into that world.

There was a movie I did called Creed II, where it kind of opens, actually, in Ukraine. So, it's interesting. Now, it's more interesting than it was 2018. The idea was to sort of go back and start back in Ukraine again, in Kyiv, but now, of course, there is war going on. There's a reason for a father and son to come to America. So it's a little bit of an immigration slash fighter story. I thought it was a great idea, but you've got to find the right person to write it, and that's what's going on right now.

Why Drago Is the Perfect Next Step After Creed III

Viktor and Ivan Drago in Creed 2

The first Creed movie was a surprising move for the Rocky film franchise, passing the torch from Rocky Balboa to the son of one of his greatest rivals. Two sequels later, with Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed firmly cemented as his own protagonist, it makes sense to continue in the now-established tradition and spend some time with another heavyweight surname. Next to Apollo Creed, Ivan Drago was Rocky’s greatest opponent; further humanizing the boxer and his son would be a novel, and interesting, way to enrich not just Creed, but also the original Rocky films.

Of course, the Creed movies have already done an impressive job of rounding out Ivan and Viktor Drago. The Creed II dinner scene with Ivan Drago made a huge impact on the understanding of the character, and Viktor Drago’s Creed III return teed up a spinoff. The Drago story hinted at by Lundgren would have every opportunity to tell an emotional story to rival the best in the franchise, just as its titular characters themselves do, and serve as a more than fitting entry in the Rocky franchise.