News

The world of Creed is expanding with a new series on Prime Video, the streamer announced during its Upfront presentation Monday.

Titled Delphi, the show will follow the careers of several young fighters at Delphi Boxing Academy, the gym where Michael B. Jordan’s titular boxer trained in the Creed film franchise.

More from TVLineSpider-Noir: Nicolas Cage Suits Up in Superhero Series for MGM+ and Prime Video - WATCHFallout Renewed for Season 3 at Prime Video - Plus, Find Out When Season 2 ArrivesDick Wolf's On Call Cancelled After One Season at Amazon - Could It Be Saved by Another Streamer?

Starring Jordan as Adonis Creed,...

If you watch a lot of Hallmark holiday movies, you'll notice faces that reappear over and over again. Hallmark is nothing if not reliant on safe, predictable storytelling, and this tendency extends to the people they hire to act in their made-for-tv films -- once you've proven that you can provide a stable, likable presence in a lead role, they'll keep on booking you. 

But while Hallmark male stars need to personify whatever romantic fantasy Hallmark is selling -- whether that's sensitive, or caring, or supporting, or rugged, or good at fighting fires -- their actresses have an altogether different responsibility. Since a large portion of the Hallmark viewership is made up of women, these actresses need to be aspirational and, above all else, relatable. We need to be able to see ourselves in them, which isn't as easy a task as it sounds. So when they find a performer who can do it well,...

Depending on your tastes, one of the best things about "Gilligan's Island" was the fact that seven castaways on an uncharted island, hidden from the rest of humankind, were frequently visited by all manner of guests. There was the time a young Kurt Russell appeared on "Gilligan's Island" as Jungle Boy, or when Don Rickles guest starred as kidnapper Norbert Wiley and quickly made Russell Johnson lose his cool.

Though one scrapped episode would have made sense of some of this classic "Gilligan's Island" nonsense, for the most part this kind of thing was never explained. Such was the case with the season 2 episode "Don't Bug the Mosquitoes," in which a Beatles-esque band named The Mosquitos visits the island simply to escape their fame for a while. How did they know about this uncharted island? Did they really pack all their instruments and amps into a small helicopter just so...

Captain Lee Rosbach, known as the "Stud of the Sea," left Below Deck season 10 early due to health reasons affecting his back and mobility. He was replaced by Captain Sandy Yawn temporarily but later returned to finish the season. Captain Lee remains active in his personal and professional endeavors, writing an autobiography and hosting a popular podcast.

Nicknamed the Stud of the Sea, Below Decks Captain Lee was on Bravo's hit reality show for 10 seasons, and there is a lot to know about the Og. Below Deck premiered in 2013, and Captain Lee was a vital part in making the show as popular as it's been. Captain Lee was last featured in the franchise as figurehead of the show in Below Deck season 10, which ran from November 2022 to March 2023. Due to health reasons that affected his back and mobility, Captain Lee left the season midway through.

He was replaced by Below Deck Med captain,...

At 74, Captain Lee remains in incredible shape through a strict diet and daily gym routine, showcasing his impressive transformation. Despite his age catching up in the past, Captain Lee emphasizes the importance of eating properly and exercising regularly for his health. Captain Lee candidly admits his weakness for wife's irresistible chocolate pie, showing relatable human struggles beyond his fit physique.

Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck is in incredible shape at 74, thanks to his strict diet and exercise routine. The Michigan native joined the popular Bravo's Below Deck season 1 in 2013 and became an integral part of the show, giving fans some of the most memorable moments. Unfortunately, Captain Lee's age eventually caught up to him ten years later. His health issues forced him to leave Below Deck season 10 prematurely. Bravo then decided to hire someone younger and replaced Captain Lee with Captain Kerry Titheradge for Below Deck season 11.

Captain Lee...

John Constantine is known for outsmarting his enemies, historically relying on his cunning to win, rather than defeating his opponents by force. John has always been portrayed as a self-defeating character, his own worst enemy – and this has been highlighted in several storylines where the antagonist turned out to be an alternative version of himself. John's carries the deaths and regrets of his past, which makes characters like "Golden Boy" and "Old John" uniquely equipped to manipulate Constantine, and as a result, they have proven to be the greatest villains he has ever faced.

The famous sardonic sorcerer John Constantine has outsmarted gods, angels, demons, and everything in between. But in the end, his greatest enemy has always been himself. Whether that means his lost twin brother from a parallel universe, or a face-off with his older self.

Several times in John's life, he's gone up against alternate-universe versions of himself,...

John Constantine is known for outsmarting his enemies, historically relying on his cunning to win, rather than defeating his opponents by force. John has always been portrayed as a self-defeating character, his own worst enemy – and this has been highlighted in several storylines where the antagonist turned out to be an alternative version of himself. John's carries the deaths and regrets of his past, which makes characters like "Golden Boy" and "Old John" uniquely equipped to manipulate Constantine, and as a result, they have proven to be the greatest villains he has ever faced.

Many powerful characters in the DC Universe solve their problems with force, but John Constantine isn't one of them. John is DC's greatest con man and often needs to outsmart his enemies to win. John has outsmarted gods and demons, and everything in between, but in the end, his greatest enemy has always been himself.

Several times in John's life,...

Sylvester Stallone's absence in Creed III can be rationalized by Rocky's guilt after Apollo Creed's death. Rocky's avoidance of facing grief explains why he wasn't part of Creed III, as he struggled with handling death in previous films. The death of Mary Anne in Creed III likely led to Sylvester Stallone's absence in the film, illustrating Rocky's avoidance of guilt and grief.

Creed III was missing one of the most significant pieces of the Rocky franchise — Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa — but Rocky's absence ultimately made sense for the context of the movie. The 2023 sports drama, directed by Michael B. Jordan and written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, served as the ninth installment in the Rocky film series and the third movie in the Creed series. The film revolved around the return of Jordan's Adonis Creed's childhood friend, Damian Anderson, played by Jonathan Majors, following his release from...

Composer Joseph Shirley has experienced a lot of success over the last couple of years, including writing the scores for Star Wars shows “The Book of Boba Fett” and Season 3 of “The Mandalorian.” But composing music for “Creed III” was a “full circle moment,” Shirley tells Gold Derby in an exclusive video interview because he had worked alongside composer Ludwig Goransson on the first two “Creed” films as an assistant.

“What we wanted to do with ‘Creed III’ was to build out its texture and flavor and sound in the score that, at times, maybe is self-referential to other ‘Creed’ movies but still takes a step forward in pushing that that ‘Creed’ sound along,” Shirley says.

The third film in the blockbuster “Rocky” franchise included many firsts beyond just Shirley’s ascendance to the title of composer. “Creed III” marked the directorial debut of star Michael B. Jordan and is...

Andrew Cunanan had a tragic childhood, witnessing his father's abuse and experiencing financial ruin. Cunanan was highly intelligent, even memorizing an entire encyclopedia set, but struggled with fitting in with wealthier peers. Cunanan's ultimate motive for killing Gianni Versace was jealousy, as he coveted Versace's wealth, fame, and acceptance as a gay celebrity.

Following the release and success of 2018's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, many are wondering what the true story of the infamous spree killer, Andrew Cunanan, actually is and what information the show left out. Created by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, American Crime Story is a Ryan Murphy-produced true crime anthology series in which each season focuses on a different true crime event with a new set of characters. Season 1, The People v. O.J. Simpson, chronicles the O.J. Simpson murder trial, and season 3 is called Impeachment and focuses on the Clinton-Lewinsky sex scandal.

The most evil villain in Matt Groening's and David X. Cohen's animated sci-fi comedy "Futurama" is undoubtedly Mom (Tress MacNeille), the wicked corporate tyrant who aims to own everything in the universe. In public, Mom wears a grandmotherly gown, complete with a bustle, and spends her time hawking "homemade" goods with a gentle, old-world, rustic charm. As soon as Mom is back in her office, however, she removes her gown -- it turns out it's a robotic suit akin to the one worn by Iron Man -- and transforms into her true self: a rail-thin, chain-smoking, Cruella de Vil-like monster who slaps her children and invents unusual cusses. 

Mom has three bumbling adult children named Walt, Larry, and Igner whom she forces to stand in a line so she can slap them all with only one swing of the arm. As "Futurama" progressed, it would also be revealed...

Like the Rocky movies before it, the Creed franchise is full of thrilling sports action, heartfelt character relationships, and inspirational courage, as well as great quotes that fire up people both on screen and in the audience. Each of the three Creed movies has expanded upon the story of Adonis Creed, the son of Rocky's legendary friend and rival Apollo Creed, and each installment has brought a new challenge — and challenger — for Adonis to contend with. Naturally, that has yielded some incredibly inspirational dialogue.

The underdog mentality of the Rocky movies echoes throughout the even better Creed series of films. It's part of what has made the characters and stories of both franchises so endearing. Audiences can identify with different parts of Adonis's journey, and various moments in these films are anchored by quotes that inspire in a number of ways.

Related: All 9 Rocky & Creed Movies Ranked (Including Creed 3...

Warning: Spoilers for Creed: Next Round #1The long-lost daughter of Apollo Creed from the original Rocky trilogy has finally returned. Creed: Next Round is a new comic book series that serves as a direct sequel to Creed III within the larger Rocky spinoff franchise. Taking place 10 years after the last movie's events, Adonis supports his 14-year-old daughter's efforts to become a boxer. The problem lies in just how far he's willing to push her. The retired Creed remains apprehensive and skeptical about booking Amara against more challenging opponents. This creates a rift between the two Creeds as the youngest embarks elsewhere for a trainer to help her reach her potential.

This brings readers to the ending of Creed: Next Round #1 by Latoya Morgan, Jai Jamison, Wilton Santos, DJ Chavis, Andworld Design, Kathleen Wineski, Kenzie Rzonca, Grace Park, Dafna Pleban, Elizabeth Raposo, and Christina Raquel. After a falling out with her...

Sylvester Stallone stepped away from the Creed franchise for Creed 3, and had he returned as Rocky, the film would have been very different. The actor's feud with producer Irwin Winkler caused Stallone to walk away from the Creed franchise for its third installment. Michael B Jordan had no trouble carrying the film alongside returning stars Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad and new cast members Jonathan Majors and Mila Davis-Kent. Shockingly, the film didn't even give an update as to where Rocky was. While Stallone's Rocky helped transition into the Creed franchise, inviting in fans of the original Rocky franchise, Creed 3 went on just fine without him.

Unfortunately, this did create some plot holes around why Rocky didn't train Adonis for his fight against Dame when he'd trained him for his previous fights and why Rocky didn't attend Maryanne Creed's funeral. Luckily, Rocky's absence did have some benefits for the film.

After a significant death in Creed 3, another female character needs a bigger role in Creed 4 to correct a franchise issue. The Rocky franchise centered on Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa, and while Rocky's wife, Adrian Pennino, was a major part of his life, the franchise was still male-centric. Creed follows suit with the first film, mainly focusing on Adonis and Rocky's relationship as the latter trained Adonis for a match. However, it also briefly explores his love story with Bianca, and the two end up marrying and having a child in Creed 2.

The Creed franchise has explored Bianca's music career and how her hearing loss impacts her passion. However, Creed has been accused of failing Bianca by not utilizing her character enough. Mary Anne Creed was also a strong female character, first introduced in the Rocky franchise but with Mary Anne gone due to her death in Creed 3,...

While Creed 3 might have focused on laying the past to rest and embracing the future Adonis Creed has built for his family, Creed 4 still needs to fix one Apollo Creed plot hole. Creed 3 saw Donnie battling personal demons as he entered a title bout with Damian Anderson, a childhood friend with a chip on his shoulder after serving some time in prison for something Donnie instigated. A man who was more like a brother to Donnie than his own adopted siblings presented the ultimate foe, and in the midst of it all, Creed 3’s big death threatened to derail his journey to the ring.

Creed 3 shows through flashbacks Donnie and Dame’s last memories spent together, when Dame participated in amateur fights and Donnie watched him from the sidelines in awe and inspiration. Their time together is a respite from a fractured youth spent between group homes,...

The father of Bravo, Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck, is said to be in talks with Carl Radke and Lindsay Hubbard to perform their Summer House wedding. Captain Lee has performed a ceremony or two while on his yachts, so it makes perfect sense that he would want to be a part of another couple's special day. Many Bravolebrites turn to him for advice as he has had a long marriage of his own.

During a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Carl shared that he was happy to report that he and Lindsay had "locked" in a venue, noting that they decided on a destination wedding in Mexico.

He also revealed another surprising detail while in the Clubhouse, noting that he and his fiancée were looking into having a special Bravolebrity officiate their big day. At that moment, Below Deck's Captain Lee Rosbach,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Creed 3Following the death of one significant character in Creed 3, Creed 4 must resolve the mystery behind another character's identity. Dropping subtle hints surrounding Adonis' past, the Creed series initially revealed that Mary Anne Creed was not Donnie's biological mother. After Apollo Creed's death, Mary only adopted Donnie after learning that the young boy was an orphan. Since she raised him as her own son, Adonis, too, accepted her as his real mother, as seen in all three Creed movies.

While keeping most details surrounding the identity of Creed's biological mother shrouded in mystery, the movie franchise disclosed that Apollo Creed was having an affair with her between the events of Rocky III and Rocky IV. Mary Anne remained upset about Apollo's decisions for a long time after his death but eventually did not let it skew her judgment and decided to give Adonis a better life.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Creed 3.Michael B. Jordan's Adonis Creed previously faced Viktor Drago, the son of the man who killed his father, and although Viktor was a brutal enough villain, Creed 3's antagonist is even better. Donnie is making peace with Apollo's legacy, as well as reflecting on his own, when Damian Anderson, played by Jonathan Majors, comes into his life like a ghost from his past. A childhood friend turned convict, Dame has been released after eighteen years in prison for being caught holding the bag when Donnie attacked someone at their group home. Now, Dame thinks Donnie is living the life that was intended for him.

Donnie tries to give Dame support for his boxing aspirations, but the man who was once like a brother has his sights set on the World Heavyweight Championship, and will do anything to get it, including immobilizing the...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Creed III.The strength of the Creed franchise has always been in the meaning behind its title, both a revered boxer's surname and a set of beliefs used to guide someone's actions, but Creed III forgets its own message halfway through the film. The movie begins with Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) cementing a legacy separate from his father Apollo Creed's, but a challenge from a childhood friend (Jonathan Majors) forces him out of retirement and into the ring. Their confrontation is deeply personal, partially because Donnie feels responsible for Dame going to prison for an altercation he instigated in his youth, and because Dame betrayed Donnie's kindness after he was released.

As Donnie prepares for Creed III's final fight for the World Heavyweight Championship one last time, he struggles to be there for his wife Bianca, his daughter Amara, and his adoptive mother Mary Anne.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Creed 3.

Creed 3 does not see the return of Rocky Balboa and offers no explanation of where he is, but some conclusions can still be drawn. Sylvester Stallone announced long before Creed 3 released that he would not be reprising his role as Rocky, which brought disappointment from some quarters. After all, the entire franchise started because Stallone had a dream of making his Rocky film a reality.

Michael B. Jordan's portrayal of Adonis Creed is strong enough to carry Creed 3 without Stallone, though the fact that the film does not give any update on Rocky's whereabouts is odd. Creed 3 follows Adonis as he reunites with his childhood friend Damian. Adonis is retired in Creed 3, and is forced to get back in shape before his grudge match with Damian. The film sets Adonis up to be a mentor to other boxers,...

Is there anything better than digging into a good book? For twins Jenna and Barbara Bush, it’s reading a good book together!

The former first daughters, 35, tell People and EW’s “Shelf Life” series that they love to indulge together in guilty pleasure reads, especially mysteries like Nelson DeMille’s The Lion’s Game and Paula Hawkins’ Into the Water.

“We love to read a good mystery when we just want to forget about everything,” says Jenna Bush Hager.

“And we like to read at the same time, so that we have someone to talk to about where we are in the book,...

Netflix has acquired road movie Kodachrome, which stars Elizabeth Olsen, for $4 million. 

Kodachrome tells the story of a record label boss who embarks on a road trip across the U.S. in order to fulfill his father's dying wish and have a roll of Kodachrome film developed, only to find there's just one remaining shop accepting them.

Jason Sudeikis and Ed Harris also stars in the movie from director Mark Raso.

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Eric Robinson, Jonathan Tropper and Leon Clarance produced, along with 21 Laps' Shawn Levy and Dan Levine. Dan Cohen, Mary Anne Waterhouse, Laure Vaysse and Jo Monk executive produced.

The film is...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net here is the Toronto Film Production Update for July 2017 including "Falling Water", "Rising Suns", "The Expanse" and a whole lot more:

12 Monkeys - Season 4Tv SeriesUniversal Television Enterprises LLCProd.: Michael Wray

Cardinal: Blackfly SEASONMini SeriesSienna Films/eOneProd.: Jessica DanielDir.: Jeff RenfroeMay 29 – Aug 4/17

Carter TV SeriesSony / AmazeProd.: Victoria HirstDir.: VariousJul 10 - Oct 13/17

Code 8FeatureCode 8 Films Inc.Prod.: Jeff ChanDir.: Jeff ChanMay 29 - Jul 14/17

Condor Season 1Tv Series T5 Condor Productions Inc. Exec. Prods.: Jason Smilovic, Todd Katzberg, Lawrence TrillingDir.: Lawrence TrillingApr 24 - Aug 15/17

Designated SURVIVORSeason 2 TV Series Designated 1 Ltd. Prod.: Llewellyn WellsDir.: VariousJul 4/17 - Mar 31/18 Tbc

Dino Dana Season 2Tv SeriesSinking Ship EntertainmentProd.: Eric BeldowskiDir: VariousJun 6 - Jul 28/17

Every DAYFeatureMGMProd.: Anthony Bregman, Peter Cron, Paul Trijbits, Christian GrassDir.: Michael SucsyJul 6 - Aug 11/17

Fahrenheit 451Tv Movie HBO Films/Morning Star Prods. Ltd. Prod.: David Coatsworth,...

By strange and fortuitous coincidence, my meeting with Jack Garfein fell upon the nexus of several intersecting moments in history. It was Friday, January 27th — International Holocaust Remembrance Day. One week earlier, Donald J. Trump was sworn to office as forty-fifth President of the United States; and in the ensuing weekend, allegations of Trump’s unpunished sexual misconduct, callous attitudes toward women and courting of radical right-wing supporters helped bring about the Women’s March on Washington, one of the largest mass protests in the nation’s history. All around, people are anxiously reading the past with tenuous hopes and fears for the future. History, so often a thing defined after the fact, is currently in violent and furious motion.

Jack Garfein is living history, and he’s not shy about telling it. Born to Ukrainian Jews in 1930, Mr. Garfein personally witnessed as a child the rise of Nazi Germany...

There's nothing worse than saying "I love you," and getting stone cold silence in return.

On No Tomorrow Season 1 Episode 7, Evie has to balance a relationship mishap and her dream job disappearing before her very eyes. Xavier is in the market for a job, which turns into some quality bonding time with Evie's sister. 

Elsewhere, Deirdre and Hank are trying to keep their relationship a secret but not having sex at work proves harder than expected.

I was actually surprised that it took Evie this long to say, "I love you." I figured it was an off screen moment that went down after they made their relationship official. But their super casual relationship and the impending end of the world must have put that on the back burner. 

But I've got to say, mentioning your feelings when your significant other is occupied with something else might not be the best call.

No Tomorrow continued on its path to make Evie stop playing it safe, and the other characters might make it all worth watching.

No Tomorrow Season 1 Episode 2 had Evie and Xavier trying to figure out their relationship after they realized that they didn't view Jesse's escape from prison the same way. Meanwhile Deirdre is focused on winning over an unknowing Hank, and Timothy is trying his best to be the man that Evie now wants.

The episode felt a bit bland in certain parts, but it's the parts that are front and center which could prove to be a problem. 

Officer please you're making a big mistake.

Evie Permalink: Officer please you're making a big mistake. Added: October 11, 2016

Did anyone else think that Xavier and Jesse looked like the same person? 

Xavier is the lead character but he isn't growing on me, in fact he is moving farther and father from me.

In a Valley of Violence Is a Small Western Packing a Bloody PunchFantasia Film Festival 2016

Writer/director Ti West’s filmography is populated mostly with dark genre fare of the thrilling and/or horrific variety, but while they typically have moments of humor you’d be hard-pressed to call any of them comedies. The possible exception there is his 2011 chiller, The Innkeepers, which delivers more than enough laughs and smiles to justify the label while also being legitimately scary. I’d argue it’s his best film due in part to the masterful balance in tone he creates throughout.

West’s latest leaves the horror genre behind all together for the dry, deadly desert of the post-Civil War American southwest, but while In a Valley of Violence is a traditional western through and through — perhaps too traditional at times —he once again imbues it with comedy and charisma that work beautifully to elevate the entertainment without stifling...

“They took everything away from me; now, I’m going to leave them with even less.” Stepping outside your comfort zone creatively is never easy, yet Ti West does it so effortlessly with his latest film, In a Valley of Violence, that you can’t help but wonder if he’s secretly been making Westerns on the side throughout his career. His affection for the genre is evident with every single frame in this ode to Spaghetti Westerns, and his confidence as a storyteller has never been higher than it is here. Simply put, In a Valley of Violence is a masterpiece and officially my new favorite film from the highly talented director who has already given us genre fans so much to love over the last 15 years.

If there’s one simple rule of life to follow, it’s to never get between a man and his dog, and...

It’s hard to believe that another South by Southwest Film Festival is almost upon us, and this year’s lineup is yet another stellar collection of indie films, shorts, documentaries and experiential projects from all over the world. As we prepare to bring our readers extensive coverage over the next week from Austin, here’s a look at the 11 genre-related films and TV shows we’re excited to check out during the festival, which begins on Friday, March 11th.

[Writer’s Note: During Sundance 2016, this writer had the privilege of covering two great genre films: Under the Shadow from Babak Anvari and Mickey Keating’s Carnage Park. Since I had the chance to catch both of these films back in January, I decided it wouldn’t be fair to include them here in my preview piece (however, genre fans attending SXSW should definitely check out both films during the fest, as they are equally incredible).]

In a Valley of Violence (Director/Screenwriter: Ti West)

Festival Synopsis: From Blumhouse, the film tells the story of a drifter named Paul who arrives in a small town, seeking revenge on the thugs who murdered his friend. Sisters Mary Anne and Ellen, who run the town’s hotel, help Paul in his quest for vengeance. Cast: Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, James Ransone, Karen Gillan, John Travolta (World Premiere)

Midnight Special...

Organizers for the South by Southwest film festival have officially rolled out the initial lineup for SXSW 2016, boasting 137 features and no less than 89 world premieres across 12 sections.

Those include the star-studded Headliners, Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition and Midnighters among many others, and today’s comprehensive breakdown gives budding attendees the opportunity to pinpoint exactly which films deserve a place on their radar.

Among those premieres include Jean-Marc Vallee’s domestic drama Demolition, while Jeff Nichols’ starry sci-fi Midnight Special continues to draw our attention – with a cast that includes Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver and Jaeden Lieberher, can you really blame us? Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some, meanwhile, opens the festival on March 11, where it will run through until March 19.

For the full comprehensive breakdown, check out the official site for SXSW 2016. For now, we’ve included the rundown for Narrative Feature Competition, Documentary Feature Competition and Headliners.

Ryan Coogler's incredible revamp of the Rocky franchise lit up the box office and has garnered plenty of awards attention. Today, Warner Bros. has revealed when you'll be able to bring Creed home on blu-ray along with all the special features to expect. Come inside to learn more.

If you missed out on Creed or simply can't wait to watch it again, you'll get your chance on March 1, 2016 when the film hits blu-ray/DVD and Digital formats.

See why your legacy is more than a name when “Creed” arrives onto Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD. From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema comes award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s “Creed.” The film reunites Coogler with his “Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed, and explores a new chapter in the “Rocky” story, starring Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role.

The undisputed king of boxing movies, Rocky, seemingly hung up its gloves with 2006’s Rocky Balboa acting as the perfect send-off for Sylvester Stallone’s Italian Stallion. But as Hollywood has taught us time and time again, you can’t keep a good franchise on the mat for long and we’re once again thrust into the unlikely prize fighter’s world with Creed. As the title suggests, focus is taken off of Rocky and put onto Apollo Creed’s baby boy, Adonis (Michael B. Jordan), the product of an extra-marital affair. Growing up in the care of Apollo’s wife Mary Anne (Phycilia Rashard) after his mother’s death, Adonis always dreamed of following in his father’s footsteps, despite Mary Anne’s vehement protests. Travelling to Philadelphia, Adonis tracks down Rocky, who reluctantly agrees to coach his rival and old friend’s son. While Creed may bill itself as a sequel/spin-off,...

Warner Bros.' Creed is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of the year, with an impressive 93% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while taking in a solid $68 million at the box office after just two weeks in theaters. We also reported this morning that Sylvester Stallone received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Rocky Balboa, who trains the son of Apollo Creed, Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) in this spinoff of the beloved Rocky franchise. Earlier this week, Sylvester Stallone shared an intriguing video, which showed his co-star Michael B. Jordan actually getting knocked out during a take in the ring. Here's what Sylvester Stallone had to say on his Twitter page.

"Michael B. Jordan, young creed and getting Ko'd for real! But he got up and did it again! That's called guts!!"

Creed explores a new chapter in the Rocky story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role.

Much has been written about the joyous cinematic experience that is "Creed," whether our own Drew McWeeny's glowing review, or A.O. Scott's New York Times rave, which contains one of my favorite lines of criticism this year. ("A boxing movie without clichés is like a political campaign without lies.") All those pieces have sung the justified praises of director/co-writer Ryan Coogler, of the star-making performance by Michael B. Jordan (there's Wallace!), of Sylvester Stallone inserting himself into the Oscar conversation, and of the technical brilliance of a film that's the best "Rocky" movie since the original. Since we're almost a week past the release, and since, based on the movie's strong box office performance, many of you have likely seen it, I wanted to take a more specific approach (and one that will have many spoilers), and discuss some of the scenes in "Creed" in which the...

From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema comes award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s Creed – which explores a new chapter in the Rocky story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role. The film also reunites Coogler with his Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in...

From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema comes award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s Creed – which explores a new chapter in the Rocky story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role. The film also reunites Coogler with his Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in...

Michael B. Jordan re-teams with his "Fruitvale Station" director Ryan Coogler for the new "Rocky" spin-off movie "Creed". Their earlier collaboration won multiple awards at Sundance, but this film finds them working in decidedly more studio friendly, mainstream territory. The result remains the same, though: an exceedingly well made movie with a magnetic central performance by Jordan.

Jordan stars as Adonis Johnson, avoiding the Creed name in hopes of remaining under the radar in his pursuit of a boxing career. Donnie was born to a mistress of Apollo Creed who later died, leaving the young boy bouncing around group homes. That is until Creed's widow Mary Anne found him and took him in. Donnie leads a well off life, with a good job, but yearns for the glory of the ring.

That's what leads him to Philadelphia and Rocky. He seeks tutelage from the former boxing great, but Rocky...

What’s in a Name?: Coogler’s Impressive Rocky Spinoff

After taking home the top prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 with Fruitvale Station, director Ryan Coogler moved into studio franchise filmmaking with Creed for his sophomore effort. It’s a questionable move, seeing as the film is a spinoff from Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rocky series, a legacy spawning six films, the last unfurling in 2006. Co-writing the screenplay with first time screenwriter Aaron Covington, Coogler’s perspective concerns the abandoned offspring of Rocky Balboa’s frenemy Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers) and his rise to fame. Considering its breakneck speed through arguably slim running time and retread of the general motions we’ve seen in nearly every boxing odyssey committed to celluloid, Coogler manages a compelling character study hinging on dynamic emotional motifs concerning the nature of legacy and the definition of family. Though not as...

Chicago – This is what happens when passionate filmmakers come into a known movie project – with an obvious love for the previous stories and characters – and create a new chapter that both evolves and honors its source. “Creed” does all of that, and gives the beloved Rocky Balboa one more time in the spotlight.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Writer/director Ryan Coogler – with screenwriter Aaron Covington – are the creators, taking the universe of Rocky Balboa (the opening scene of the first film takes place 40 years ago today, on November 25th, 1975, and includes six previous films) and expanding it with the story of Adonis Creed, the son of Rocky’s first opponent, heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. The approach is straightforward and clean, borrowing from Sylvester Stallone’s last outing as the Rocky character, “Rocky Balboa,” and adding the Adonis situation to the mix. Director Coogler also used some unexpected tools in his filmmaker’s arsenal...

Early on in Creed, the seventh installment of the Rocky franchise, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) shadowboxes in front of a screen projecting footage of a bout between Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), and his father, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). It’s a sharp composition, but the positioning is the revealing aspect, as Jordan’s stationary form overlaps with both Rocky and Apollo – the David and Goliath relationship of the Rocky series.

There’s few greater visual metaphors for Creed as both a character, and as the continuation of a successful franchise than this image. Despite its reputation as an iconic underdog story, Rocky — and the franchise by extension — aren’t dark horses anymore, and neither is Adonis.

Director Ryan Coogler taps into something existential about the Rocky story. He knows that the legacy of Rocky will always tower over Creed, but by transforming those expectations into a mirror for its protagonist,...

Rousing in spirit, surprisingly emotional and visually dynamic, filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s first studio movie “Creed” is a worthy successor to the best of the “Rocky” movies and proves the young director is the real deal. But as a movie concerning emerging from a father's shadow and carving out your own legacy, it's fairly safe and familiar —it’s ironic just how much “Creed” is indebted to the early “Rocky” films and never finds its own distinct identity. “Creed” begins in flashback: Adonis Johnson is a troubled orphan who has been in and out of juvenile detention centers in Los Angeles for most of his life. Busted for what we presume is yet another fight, he receives an unexpected visit from Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), who reveals that he is the illegitimate son of the late Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers, seen in photos and borrowed nostalgic footage from “Rocky 2”). Cutting to present day,...

There is a single line of dialogue in "Creed," late in the film, delivered by Michael B. Jordan, where the entire film comes into focus, and in that moment, the movie absolutely broke me. Whatever I expected from what is, technically speaking, the seventh film in the "Rocky" series, it wasn't this, and I suspect that both Jordan and writer/director Ryan Coogler are going to be very busy once people see what they've done here. It is far better than it needs to be, far better than I expected it to be, and far better than any franchise deserves this far into it. The screenplay for "Creed," written by Coogler and Aaron Covington, is lean and smart and emotionally direct, and perhaps the most honest piece of writing in the series since the first film. In some ways, this is an inverted remake, and if there'd been no other films between the two,...

There are always many things to give thanks for every Thanksgiving, such as quality time spent with family and massive amounts of turkey. For movie fans, there are always a wealth of highly-anticipated projects arriving in theaters, and this year is no different. One of the movies debuting just before Turkey Day this year is Creed, MGM and Warner Bros.' spinoff of the beloved Rocky franchise, bringing Sylvester Stallone back for the seventh time as Rocky Balboa. With just a few weeks left until the November 25 release, Warner Bros. has released 40 new photos from this boxing drama, featuring Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan.

Creed explores a new chapter in the Rocky story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role. The film also reunites director Ryan Coogler with his Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed. Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father,...

Does it seem like everything is turning 20 this year? Alanis Morissette re-released a special edition of Jagged Little Pill in honor of its birthday, and now we're getting some serious nostalgia by way of The Baby-Sitters Club movie. In honor of its 20th anniversary, the cast reunited for a special screening of the movie at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, Tuesday. Rachael Leigh Cook, who played Mary Anne, uploaded a selfie with Bre Blair (Stacey), Larisa Oleynik (Dawn) and Marla Sokoloff (Cokie) to kick start the reunion. "It's On! #BSCreunion," she wrote alongside the photo. Sokoloff also tapped into all of our emotions by sharing a touching black-and-white photo of her gal-pals and...

Boxers and movie franchises have a lot in common, in that they both must decide when it's the right time to call it quits. Sports and movie fans alike have seen fighters and franchises that have continued past their prime, and it's never a pretty sight. After six successful movies, most fans thought 2006's Rocky Balboa would be the last time we'd see this iconic character on the big screen, but that all changed with the upcoming Creed, which extends the Rocky franchise while giving it a fresh spin. Warner Bros. has released a new preview, where even Sylvester Stallone himself admits that he thought his days as Rocky Balboa were all over.

Sylvester Stallone reveals that he had never thought about exploring a story focused on Apollo Creed's son, while producer Irwin Winkler also admits that he thought the franchise was over, until he heard about writer-director Ryan Coogler...

“It’s about a rebirth of Rocky. I thought how interesting that someone of this generation would like a story that started two generations ago. Then I started becoming very intrigued.” – Sylvester Stallone on ‪Creed‬ and director Ryan Coogler.

Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler discuss the impact and legacy of the Rocky movies in this brand new featurette for Creed.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis...

Following the second full trailer that debuted last week, Warner Bros. has released a new TV spot for their Rocky spinoff Creed, in theaters November 25. The studio has also unveiled a new poster, featuring stars Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed, and Sylvester Stallone as the Italian Stallion himself, Rocky Balboa. Although Rocky's fighting days are long over, he helps young Adonis fight for his name, both in and out of the ring.

Creed explores a new chapter in the Rocky story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role. The film also reunites director Ryan Coogler with his Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed. Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there's no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia,...

Fans of the Rocky films, get ready.

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first poster and TV spot, starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan, for the highly-anticipated movie, Creed.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling...

With the November 25 release date just around the corner, Warner Bros. has released the second trailer for their Rocky spinoff Creed. This video features much more footage than the first trailer released back in June, which teases that Sylvester Stallone's iconic character Rocky Balboa has lost everyone in his life, including Pauly, who has passed away. We also watch as Rocky tries to transform Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) from a street brawler to a championship-caliber boxer.

Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there's no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed's legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite...