The idea of a spinoff from the Rocky series sounded silly before we saw the first film, but the Creed movies have become a showcase for actor Michael B. Jordan. That’s even moreso the case with Creed 3, where Jordan will be stepping behind the camera in addition to starring in the film. And now, we know when to expect the next chapter of the boxing saga–Creed 3 is set to release in Fall 2022.
MGM revealed today that Creed 3 will arrive just in time for Thanksgiving, hitting theaters on November 23, 2022. Creed 3 marks Jordan’s directorial debut. Keenan Coogler, brother to Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, is taking on writing duties for the film. Coogler also wrote the upcoming Space Jam: A New Legacy.
“Directing has always been an aspiration, but the timing had to be right,” Jordan said in an official statement. “Creed 3 is that moment–a time in my life where I’ve grown more sure of who I am, holding agency in my own story, maturing personally, growing professionally, and learning from greats like Ryan Coogler, most recently Denzel Washington, and other top tier directors I respect. All of which sets the table for this moment.”
“This franchise and in particular the themes of Creed 3 are deeply personal to me,” Jordan continued. “I look forward to sharing the next chapter of Adonis Creed’s story with the awesome responsibility of being its director and its namesake.”
Other details on the film are sparse; it’s assumed that co-stars Phylicia Rashad and Tessa Thompson will reprise their roles, but that hasn’t been formally announced. Thompson initially revealed Jordan’s directorial debut back in December 2020, but didn’t directly confirm that she’s in the film. In a fun bit of symmetry, Variety notes that Sylvester Stallone, who starred in all of the Rocky films, began directing them with Rocky II, and went on to direct four more of them.
