Sylvester Stallone to direct ‘Creed 2’

KNOWN for playing cinema’s most famous boxer, Sylvester Stallone announced on Monday that he would direct the next spin- off from the “Rocky” saga.

“Looking forward to directing and producing the incredibly talented Michael B Jordan in CREED 2 next year” he wrote on his Instagram account.

Released in 2015 “Creed” focused not on Rocky but on the son of another boxing champion, Apollo Creed, who went from nemesis to manager and friend over the course of four fi lms.

Adonis Creed was introduced in the 2015 movie, played by Michael B. Jordan, and while the breakout lead was hailed for his performance, it was Stallone’s accomplished ecasting of Rocky as key supporting character that led to a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination. The fi lm itself generated US$ 173.6 million at the worldwide box office, over four times its US$ 40 million budget, under the direction of Ryan Coogler, who also co-wrote. Coogler is now steering Marvel superhero movie “Black Panther” for release in February 2018, and Stallone himself is assuming directorial responsibility for a “Creed” sequel. Though the muscly Italian American has become most recognisable as the action hero star of “Rocky,” “Rambo” and, more recently, “The Expendables,” Stallone is an experienced director with eight fi lms under his belt since 1978’s “Paradise Alley.” Four of them are from the “Rocky” franchise, one the 2008 “Rambo” comeback, another the 1983 disco classic “Staying Alive” and the latest being “The Expendables.” “Creed 2” is currently expected in theatres sometime during 2019. — Relaxnews