To say that “Creed III” was a massive success is an understatement. Not only did the third film (and first directed by star Michael B. Jordan) outgross the previous film ($275 million worldwide vs. $214 million worldwide, respectively), but the third film actually outperformed the acclaimed original by more than $100 million globally. And if you’re a studio and you see those numbers, you better believe the franchise is going to keep going. 

Continue reading ‘Creed IV’ In The Works With Michael B. Jordan Returning To Direct at The Playlist.

By now, you’ve heard that the boxing drama “Creed III” has been a massive hit—the number #1 movie at the box office this past weekend, already over $110 million worldwide—and that’s been a huge boon to actor Michael B. Jordan, who not only stars in the franchise but made his directorial debut with the third film in this franchise. “Creed,” of course, is already a spin-off of the “Rocky” franchise.

Continue reading Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Creed’-Verse Might Include Anime Film, A Live-Action TV Series & More at The Playlist.

There’s no denying that Rocky Balboa, as portrayed by Sylvester Stallone over the decades, is one of the most recognizable characters to ever grace a film screen. It’s impossible to separate Rocky from Stallone, as the actor-writer-director was the man behind nearly every aspect of the first film and is the lynchpin to the whole franchise. And yet, when you hear Stallone talk about the current state of the “Rocky” franchise, it’s just filled with anger and regret, as the actor has no producing power and no rights to claim in the film series.

Continue reading Sylvester Stallone Talks About ‘Rocky’ Rights Issues & Being “The Only One Left Out” Of The Future Of The Franchise at The Playlist.

“There’s no enemy like the past,” and the past is certainly catching up with Adonis Creed in “Creed III.” And star Michael B. Jordan is doing triple duty on this film with all of it on his shoulders. He’s the star, a producer, and now a filmmaker. Yes, Jordan makes his directorial debut in “Creed III,” which is impressive because starting out on a big, dynamic boxing franchise is difficult to pull off.

Continue reading ‘Creed III’ Trailer: Jonathan Majors Is Coming For Everything In Michael B. Jordan’s Directorial Debut at The Playlist.

Sly Stallone’s “Rocky” franchise is easily one of the best and most successful sports dramas unleashed by Hollywood. While the quality of the series waivers towards the end (thank you “Creed” for fixing that), It’s hard to argue that there isn’t some great entertainment value to be had with most of the movies.

READ MORE: Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Megan Fox, Tony Jaa & More Team For New ‘Expendables’ Film

Following his supposed retirement from the franchise, Stallone is returning to the fourth installment with a new director’s cut of “Rocky IV” he’s been teasing on social media accounts for months.

Continue reading ‘Rocky IV: Rocky Vs. Drago’ Trailer: MGM Releasing Ultimate Director’s Cut In Theaters On November 11 at The Playlist.

Jonathan Majors is having a moment. Not only is he the star of the popular HBO series, “Lovecraft Country,” but he’s also about to have one hell of a slate of feature films that are arriving over the next couple of years, apparently including a co-starring role in the upcoming “Creed III.”

READ MORE: Sylvester Stallone Won’t Appear In ‘Creed III’

According to Deadline, Jonathan Majors is in talks to join the upcoming “Creed III.” The report claims that Majors will star opposite Michael B.

Continue reading Jonathan Majors To Face Off Against Michael B. Jordan In ‘Creed III’ at The Playlist.

Last week, it was reported that Sylvester Stallone is going to step away from the “Creed” franchise and not appear as Rocky Balboa in the upcoming three-quel from actor-director Michael B. Jordan. Of course, this news was met with a bit of disappointment from fans of the franchise that have grown to enjoy the relationship Rocky and Adonis have displayed over the first two ‘Creed’ films.

Continue reading Michael B. Jordan Says Sylvester Stallone Won’t Be In ‘Creed III’ Because Franchise Is Pushing “Forward” at The Playlist.

While the “Creed” film franchise is clearly about the struggles of Adonis Creed, as he attempts to escape the shadow of his legendary father and become a champion in his own right, the fact that Sylvester Stallone plays such a crucial role as Rocky Balboa in the first two films always created this undeniable link between the “Rocky” franchise and this new iteration. Well, it appears the link is going to be a bit severed in the upcoming third “Creed” film from actor-director Michael B.

Continue reading Sylvester Stallone Won’t Appear In ‘Creed III’ at The Playlist.

For years, the word “threequel” sent shivers down the spines of film fans the world over. A sequel is tough enough, but a sequel to a sequel? Hardly ever turns out great, right? Well, Michael B. Jordan is hoping to break that curse as the star and director(!) of “Creed III.” And to help, The Playlist Podcast is offering three films that are some of the best threequels to ever grace the big screen.

Continue reading Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Creed III’ Should Look At These Films For Threequel Inspiration [The Playlist Podcast] at The Playlist.

“[Michael B. Jordan] is directing the next Creed. It’s going to be ammo,” Tessa Thompson revealed in an interview late last year. And the news had been in the air for a while. Jordan, the star of “Creed” and “Creed II,” the successful spin-off from the “Rocky” movies, was hoping he would direct the third film in the boxing franchise.

Continue reading Michael B. Jordan Confirmed To Direct ‘Creed III,’ Film Given Thanksgiving 2022 Release at The Playlist.

“Creed 3” has always been a given, especially since the sequel not only did solid box office numbers but still was able to receive critical acclaim, as did the first film. But with the history of director changes on the franchise, it’s only been a question of who will be behind the camera when Michael B. Jordan dons the boxing gloves one more time. Well, it appears that Tessa Thompson has confirmed the recent reports that Jordan himself will be the person that will bring yet another Adonis Creed story to life.

Continue reading Tessa Thompson Confirms Michael B. Jordan Will Direct ‘Creed 3’ & She’ll Need Him To “Dial Down The Sexiness” at The Playlist.

When film fans hear about a studio rebooting an iconic franchise with a new, younger lead and telling roughly the same story, their eyes begin to roll. It’s a situation that has been tried again and again, with most of the resulting films being pretty terrible. But somehow, Ryan Coogler was able to buck that trend with “Creed,” delivering a great film that not only honors the “Rocky” franchise but paved a new path in the process.

Continue reading ‘King Richard’ Writer Zach Baylin To Pen The Script For ‘Creed 3’ at The Playlist.

**Spoiler Warning – ‘Creed II’ details will be discussed, but only briefly. You’ve been warned.**

It’s been over 40 years since Rocky Balboa, and by proxy Sylvester Stallone, became an instant icon thanks to the film “Rocky.” Over the decades, the underdog boxer has fought Mr. T, a Russian powerhouse, Apollo Creed (twice), and even cancer. But now, thanks to Michael B.

Continue reading Sylvester Stallone Praises Michael B. Jordan & ‘Creed II’ As He Officially Declares The End Of Rocky Balboa at The Playlist.

As an incredibly cinematic sport, boxing films are often rife with clichés. So then, what a welcome surprise it was to have a “Rocky” movie that actually delivered the thrills and goosebumps that made the original 1976 film so great. Although the story might be familiar, Ryan Coogler‘s “Creed” had a freshness and vitality that only a young, talented filmmaker and actor could bring to the table.

Continue reading ‘Creed 2’: Sylvester Stallone Says Ivan Drago Will Return at The Playlist.

The Hollywood gender divide isn’t exclusive to acting or directing; there is a serious gap in the world of cinematography, notwithstanding some of the boundless, triumphant work that has been created by women in the past decade (and then some). For every Roger Deakins or Emmanuel Lubezki there’s a Reed Morano or a Maryse Alberti, women who have shot some of the most notoriously beautiful and breathtaking films, yet you, and even this author alike, perhaps didn’t know about all of them.

Continue reading The Extraordinary Vision Of 12 Essential Female Cinematographers at The Playlist.

How many cases of a particular condition must be confirmed before it’s officially an epidemic? Because if things keep on going like this, it’s possible that there’ll be no Hollywood movie released in 2020 that isn’t either a comic book film or a boxing drama. This week, we get Jonathan Jakubowicz‘s “Hands of Stone” starring Edgar Ramirez and Robert de Niro — who is himself obviously the veteran of an all-time, stone-cold American classic about a once-great boxer’s desperate bid to regain former glory: “Grudge Match.”

Anyway, “Hands of Stone” comes hot on the heels of Antoine Fuqua‘s “Southpaw,” “Ryan Coogler‘s “Creed” and unforgettable touchpoint “Back in the Day” which stars Michael Madsen, Alec Baldwin and Danny Glover and no, us neither.

Continue reading The 25 Best Boxing Movies Ever at The Playlist.

The Legacyquel Treatment: 15 Films Ripe For A 'Star Wars'-Style Nostalgic Redo

Continue reading The Legacyquel Treatment: 15 Films Ripe For A ‘Star Wars’-Style Nostalgic Redo at The Playlist.

'Creed' Producer Confirms Sequel Will Focus On Adonis

Continue reading ‘Creed’ Producer Confirms Sequel Will Focus On Adonis at The Playlist.

2016 Oscars: 5 Snubs That Rocked The Academy Awards

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Watch: Sylvester Stallone & Michael B. Jordan Talk Apollo In Deleted Scene From 'Creed'

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Consider This: Is #OscarsSoWhite A Symptom Of Movies Losing (Even More) Ground To TV?

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'Creed' Sequel May Reunite Rocky Balboa And Apollo Creed

Continue reading ‘Creed’ Sequel May Reunite Rocky Balboa And Apollo Creed at The Playlist.

The Best Cinematography Of 2015

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You hear “cinema is dead” constantly. You also hear that movies are exclusively focused on superheroes and teen dystopias, and anyone wanting anything else has turned to the “golden age of television.” To which we say: bullshit.

It’s not that there aren’t problems with cinema right now, but anyone who says that there aren’t enough good movies didn’t see enough movies or was seeing the wrong ones. From the multiplex to the arthouse, from hugely expensive blockbusters to micro-budget indies shot with tools you probably have in your pocket, there’s an enormous breadth and depth of great film in 2015.

Continue reading The 20 Best Films Of 2015 at The Playlist.

Best Of 2015: The 15 Best Trailers Of The Year

Continue reading Best Of 2015: The 15 Best Trailers Of The Year at The Playlist.