‘Creed 2’ Enlists Up and Coming Director Steven Caple Jr.
Despite Sylvester Stallone’s interest in getting back behind the camera for the follow-up to 2015’s acclaimed Rocky legacyquel, the actor — along with Creed director Ryan Coogler — has enlisted the talents of another director for Creed 2. Steven Caple Jr., whose indie feature The Land impressed audiences at Sundance 2016, has taken the reigns for the upcoming sequel, which will continue the chronicle of Michael B. Jordan’s boxer Adonis Johnson.
Variety reports that Stallone, Coogler and Jordan all agreed to offer Caple Jr. the directing gig based on the strength of The Land, his coming-of-age film about a group of teen boys who spend their summer pursuing a career in professional skateboarding in the hopes of leaving the streets of Cleveland behind. Although Stallone previously announced his intent to direct Creed 2, he was swayed by Caple Jr.’s talents.
Jordan and Tessa Thompson will reprise their roles in the sequel, and though Coogler is not returning to direct, he will remain on board to oversee the project as executive producer. Creed 2 will follow Adonis “inside and outside of the ring as he deals with new-found fame, issues with his family, and his continuing quest to become a champion.” Caple Jr. is writing the screenplay alongside Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker, and Stallone has teased the possibility of addressing the death of Adonis’ father, Apollo Creed, during the match against Ivan Drago.
Creed 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on November 21, 2018.