The actor makes his directing debut in the latest episode of the boxing trilogy.
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Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Mila Davis-Kent and Michael B. Jordan attend the Los Angeles Premiere of 'Creed III' at TCL Chinese Theatre on February 27, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images |
‘Creed III’ Premiere: Michael B. Jordan on His Journey With the Franchise.
The on-screen rivalry between Creed III co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors has a way of transferring off-screen as well – in a nice manner.
"His passion to be the greatest, I have that drive to be the best," Majors said of his and Jordan's work ethic. "And, contrary to common assumption, such things may coexist. That's how a film like Creed III gets made."
The cast and crew of Creed III gathered at the TCL Chinese Theater on Monday evening to celebrate the film's premiere, which opens in theaters on Friday.
"His passion to be the greatest, I have that drive to be the best," Majors said of his and Jordan's work ethic. "And, contrary to common assumption, such things may coexist. That's how a film like Creed III gets made."
The cast and crew of Creed III gathered at the TCL Chinese Theater on Monday evening to celebrate the film's premiere, which opens in theaters on Friday.
Jordan's path with the Creed franchise has been personal, from appearing in the prior films to now directing the third sequel. "I've played this character three times in the previous nine years of my life - extremely transforming years, the last nine years of my professional and my life," the actor remarked of Adonis Creed. "In order to be able to look at a dynasty, [as Adonis] is presumably going through comparable problems, I could blur the borders.
As an actor, I believe you search for ways to contribute a piece of yourself to your part while also working out some of your crap. The fact that I was able to do so adds a personal touch to the film.
In Creed III, the story picks up for Adonis at a different stage in his life. Having retired from boxing as a world champion, Creed is focused on his family, as well as elevating the next generation of champion boxers. When Damian (Majors), a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, resurfaces after serving time in prison, the former friends face-off for the fight of their lives. Tessa Thompson also stars as Bianca, Adonis’ longtime girlfriend and now-wife, as the couple share a daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent).
“Mike? Directing? It's terrible." Majors complimented his co-star. "And I'd do it all over again!"
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| Jonathan Majors, and Michael B. Jordan |
"I enjoy working with Mike," co-writer Keenan Coogler said of Jordan. "We usually have the finest shorthand when we work together because we've simply been working together for a long time, but also we [both] have an athletic background. Clearly, [in] an environment like this, it just allows us to all bring it up to work and bring our lunch pails when we work together. As a result, I see him like a brother."
Coogler is real-life siblings with Black Panther filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who helmed the original Creed picture and is credited with helping to the story this time around.
"I adore it," Coogler says of working with his brother Ryan. "We got to contribute a lot to the tale, and Majors was always serious about including us in these characters. So what better time than with my brother?"
"I adore it," Coogler says of working with his brother Ryan. "We got to contribute a lot to the tale, and Majors was always serious about including us in these characters. So what better time than with my brother?"
Working with Jordan as well as the Coogler brothers was "one of the nicest working experiences I've ever had," said co-screenwriter Zach Baylin. "It was a pretty collaborative process with [Michael], me and Keenan and Ryan, all sort of sitting down at the start and asking, 'Where are you hoping to pick up with this character? What are the topics and concepts in your own life that you'd want to investigate further?"
“He had really big ideas from the beginning about responsibility, about what it means to have achieved both the heights that that Adonis has, but that probably Michael has, as well, and how you want to give back and be part of the community after that,” the writer continued about the parallels between Creed and Jordan. Last year, Baylin wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-winning King Richard, which chronicled the real-life story of Richard Williams, the father of tennis champion sister duo Venus and Serena, played by Will Smith.
“I’ve been trying to ask myself that,” Baylin said about the sports connection between his two most recent films. “I’m a big sports fan, so I think part of it is that I like that arena. But I think what I really liked about both of these stories is that they were opportunities to tell family, dramatic stories about people in really critical times of their life, where they’re forced to make really hard, difficult decisions. I think it’s hard to find movies, especially studio movies now, that are going to be adult dramas. [In the] sports arena, it’s a really good opportunity to get to tell these kinds of [stories].”
“I’ve been trying to ask myself that,” Baylin said about the sports connection between his two most recent films. “I’m a big sports fan, so I think part of it is that I like that arena. But I think what I really liked about both of these stories is that they were opportunities to tell family, dramatic stories about people in really critical times of their life, where they’re forced to make really hard, difficult decisions. I think it’s hard to find movies, especially studio movies now, that are going to be adult dramas. [In the] sports arena, it’s a really good opportunity to get to tell these kinds of [stories].”
Others stars in attendance included Dr. Dre, Yayha Abdul-Mateen, Serena
Williams, Storm Reid, Vivica A. Fox, Big Sean and Xochitl Gomez.
Creed III premieres in theaters on March 3.
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Zinzi Coogler, Ryan Coogler, Vivica A. Fox and Big Sean Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage |
