Thinking outside the box(ing)
Why Creed II switched directors — from an old veteran to a new contender
When it became clear Ryan coogler’s 2015’s Rocky spin-off Creed would earn a sequel, the immediate question was: who would direct? coogler, unable to juggle his Black Panther commitments, passed on directing Creed II. it turned to series creator Sylvester Stallone, director of four previous Rockys, to triumphantly return to the director’s chair.
For about five seconds. then he vacated it again. if boxing is a young man’s game so, it seems, is directing a boxing movie. “i realised youth must be served,” says Stallone. “Doing this kind of film is incredibly taxing. and this kid had such a great vision and an energy.”
that kid was Steven caple Jr., a relative newcomer with just one film (2016’s The Land) under his belt. Yet that caught the eye of coogler, who’s executive producing this sequel with Stallone. at just 30, caple Jr. is youthful, alright. he was also passionate about pursuing the same direction as coogler and co. “Ryan put in a word,” laughs caple Jr. “i talked with them about the importance of having an african-american director, someone who can stay in tune and be real with the character Ryan and mike had created. We’re trying to make sure these characters are portrayed in a way that our generation can relate to, especially black people.”
Creed II is an interesting blend of the old and new, as Dolph Lundgren returning as ivan Drago, the man who killed adonis’ father in Rocky IV. now the trainer of his brick shithouse son Viktor (Florian munteanu), Drago sets off on a collision course with adonis and Rocky, the man who beat him in the ring all those years ago. “the ancient history of myself and Drago has now been passed onto the sons,” says Stallone, who co-wrote the screenplay with cheo hodari coker. “it’s somewhat Shakespearean, if i can say that without sounding pretentious.” not at all. as Shakespeare himself wrote, cry havoc and let slip the Dragos of war.