Creed II trailer unites heavyweights Sylvester Stallone, Michael B Jordan

Star Michael B Jordan on Wednesday released the first trailer for Creed II, the follow-up to 2015’s hit boxing drama, Creed. The film is the second in the spin-off series to Sylvester Stallone’s acclaimed Rocky franchise, focussing on the life and career of Adonis Creed, the child of Rocky’s rival in the ring, Apollo.

The trailer catches up with Adonis’ life a few years after the events of the first film; he’s with Bianca and has child now, and in the words of his mentor, Rocky, has everything to lose.

So when a new challenge presents itself in the form of Ivan Drago’s son, Viktor, Rocky warns him against returning to the ring. Ivan Drago was played by Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV and he was the one who killed Apollo Creed in the ring. Lundgren is also expected to return in Creed II.

Themes of guilt - Rocky refused to throw in the towel during Apollo’s fight with Drago - and legacy - Adonis never wanted anything to do with his father - are thrown into the mix. The trailer is scored to Kendrick Lamar’s anthemic song DNA, and features shots from different moments in the film cut to action, drama and heartbreak.

Creed II is directed by Steven Caple Jr, who replaced original director Ryan Coogler. Since the success of Creed - the film scored an Oscar nomination for Stallone and made $173 million worldwide - Coogler and Jordan went on to work in Marvel’s Black Panther. Creed II also stars Tessa Thompson, Florian Munteanu and Phylicia Rashad.

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