A knockout movie just in time for Thanksgiving

By Kiara Mays | Published by Nov. 26, 2018

Movie poster for the upcoming film, “Creed II.” Photo courtesy of Imdb.com.

With Michael B. Jordan reprising the role of Adonis Creed and Sylvester Stallone as the legendary Rocky Balboa, the highly anticipated movie “Creed II” is set to hit theaters Nov. 21, just in time for Thanksgiving.

After grossing an average of about $172 million worldwide against a $37 million budget, according to forbes.com, the 2015 release of “Creed” was a huge hit. It was such a hit that it breathed new life into the “Rocky Balboa” franchise by successfully welcoming in a new generation of fans according to express.co.uk. A few of those new generation fans attend Kean University.

“I love Michael B. Jordan,” said Ja’nae Morales, senior majoring in early childhood and family studies. “So I will definitely be going to see it.”

According to imdb.com, in the upcoming lm Adonis Creed will be seen balancing life as both a new father and newly crowned light heavyweight champion as he prepares for the fight of his career against Viktor Drago, the son of former prize Russian boxer, Ivan Drago. As some might recall, Ivan Drago killed Apollo Creed (Adonis’ father) in the boxing ring years earlier but was later defeated by Rocky himself.

“That fight should be interesting… considering he [Jordan] will be fighting the son of the boxer who actually killed his father,” said Evan Hewitt, a senior majoring in public relations. “I might go see it just for that.”

While filmmaker Ryan Coogler, best known for directing the record-breaking box office hit “Black Panther” and the first “Creed” movie, will not be returning to direct “Creed II,” he instead passed the reins to Steven Caple Jr., another filmmaker who Coogler went to film school with. Many were disappointed to find that Coogler wouldn’t have a hand in the making of “Creed II” and thought it to be because of timing, but he explained why in an interview with Kristopher Tapley on Variety magazine’s “Playback” podcast.

“I mean of course it was possible,” Coogler said in the podcast. “Creed was about my dad and me, so it’s a movie that I find difficult to watch. It’s difficult for me to even think about it, I’ve got so many emotional ties to it, not to mention you know how much I care about the people involved.”

Aside from Jordan and Stallone, Tessa ompson will also be reprising her role as Bianca Porter, the girlfriend of Adonis and mother of his child. Phylicia Rashad will also be returning to play Mary Anne Creed. Other stars of the film include Dolph Lundgren returning as Ivan Drago, Andre Ward, Wood Harris, and Brigitte Nielsen just to name a few.

After a Thanksgiving meal with the family, an outing to the movies to see “Creed II” might not be a bad idea.