Creedis alegacy seriesspawned from the classicRockyfranchise. Generating from the story of Rocky Balboa, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has had a life of his own.Creed IIIwas the first film in the series not to include Rocky in the main story. Besidesbehind-the-scenes drama, this story never needed Rocky to be a part of it. Pitting Adonis against a childhood friend (Jonathan Majors) pushed the series in a darker direction. With the film ending on a hopeful note, it opens up the door for future franchise possibilities.
Creed IIIdid not blatantly build up future stories in this universe. Instead, the film placed exciting details for spin-off films. A plot point ofCreed IIIinvolves Adonis’s daughter Maya (Mila Davis-Kent) and her interest in boxing. This “interest” could spawn a spin-off film centering on her character. A sequel following her later down the line could be the next step in this legacy franchise. This is not the only wayCreedcould continue its story in theRockyuniverse. With the ending ofCreed III, there is also a chance for older characters from the franchise to return. Their return could be a response for theCreedfamily to work out their issues.
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Amara Needs to Become the Next Champion
A spin-off involving Amara does not need to happen anytime soon. This is a sequel that could happen years down the line. Besides being a positive representation of thedeaf community,Creed IIIwas a father-daughter story. Throughout the film, there is a focus on building familial bonds between Donnie and Amara. Continuing her story would help to pay homage to the entireCreed/Rockyfranchise. Amara and Adonis’s relationship could be akin to a Rocky/Adonis relationship in theCreedfranchise.
Michael B. Jordan’seagernessto expand theCreeduniverse opens numerous possibilities. A story centered on his daughter would be a progressive way to continue the franchise. While expanding theCreedfamily dynamics, the story could pay respect to what came before. Amara and Adonis’s relationship could be similar to Rocky and Adonis’s inCreed. It would also come with a serious emotional weight being a father & daughter story. This could also be a way to bring the franchise full circle in theRockyandCreeduniverse. Amara could fight another former character’s child or mentee who wants to get in the ring. The only question that remains is: who could Amara fight in her first outing?
Creed IIpitted Adonis against Viktor Drago, allowing Rocky and Ivan Drago to reunite. To carry that same weight, Jonathan Majors’s character needs to return.Creed IIIhad Donnie (and Damian reconciling over their past. That does not mean Damian could not have his own child. This character (most likely a daughter) could still want revenge for how her father was treated. Pitting daughter against daughter would be an organic way for this story to continue. It would also be a way to show the maturity of this franchise over the years. This is not the only future story to tell.
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Creed 4 Needs to Shake Up the Formula
Years will pass before Amara has a chance to enter the ring. In the meantime, there are other directions for thefranchise to go. A fourthCreedstory could be something that subverts audience expectations. To makeCreed 4a reality, you need to change the perspective of the story. The film has to move away from simply being a compelling “boxing” movie. Instead,Creed 4needs to focus on Adonis as the newly refound businessman over the boxer. The film could be aJerry Maguire-esque story in the Rocky universe.
Thisnew erahas started to shake up the core elements of this franchise. Audiences have had plenty of films that utilize and modernize the sports movie formula. This includes elements like training montages and a story always leading to a “big fight.” Instead, making Adonis more of a promoter (likeCreed IIIdoes) could help to be a nuanced take on the business. Donnie could take someone under his wing, whether it would be his daughter or not.Creed IIIflirted with this idea but eventually forced Donnie to get back in the ring. However, that is not the only way for the story to continue in the future.
If Donnie does not get back into the ring, it should not be a detractor for audiences. Introducing his mentorship of other fighters leaves room for compelling drama. This could also be how characters like Rocky Balboa return. Donnie could be jaded by the business and have to be reminded of his roots. Such a reminder could include at least one boxing match involving him. This more creative narrative could help make theRockylegacy more vast and expansive than it currently is.
The future of theCreed/Rockyuniverse has very exciting potential for the future. Besides Michael B. Jordan announcing spin-offs, theCreedfranchise will continue. Putting Donnie in a more supporting role opens the door to possibilities. Future films can look into other aspects of the boxing world, making a different kind of sports movie. The story can still keep the franchise’s essence while keeping things fresh. A fourthCreedfilm has the ability to be a great next step in the future ofRocky.
