In a recent interview, Dolph Lundgren, known for his iconic role as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, has shared some exciting details about the planned Drago spinoff movie in the Rocky franchise. Lundgren reprised his role as Drago in the 2018 legacy sequel Creed II, where he trained his son Viktor to take down Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan, and become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
While Lundgren's character was absent in Creed III, it has been revealed that Drago is still in development. During the interview, Lundgren confirmed that the script for the spinoff, titled Drago, revolves around his character and his son. He explained that the delay in the movie's progress was due to the success of Creed III, which prompted the studio to focus on developing a sequel to it.
Lundgren gave some fascinating insight into the story of Drago. The script presented an interesting angle, exploring a 'coming to America' storyline with the Drago family. The initial scenes were set in Ukraine, with a Russian invasion serving as a catalyst for their desire to migrate to America. Lundgren expressed enthusiasm for the unique narrative and described it as 'pretty cool.'
His return as Ivan Drago in Creed II was more than just a nostalgic nod to the franchise's history. It provided depth and meaning to the storyline by delving into the relationship between Ivan and Viktor. The movie showcased the abandonment experienced by Viktor after his father's loss to Rocky and revealed that his mother had left Ivan as well. These revelations added layers of nuance to both Viktor's past and present actions, strengthening the connection between father and son.
In Creed III, Florian Munteanu reprised his role as Viktor Drago, initially being sponsored by Adonis Creed before helping him train to defeat Dame. Early reports about Drago indicated that the spinoff would not only explore the relationship between Ivan and Viktor but also delve into the backstory of Lundgren's character.
Lundgren's recent revelation that Drago would be an immigration story for both Dragos in the midst of the Russian invasion in Ukraine offers a timely and captivating premise. With the setting in the height of the Cold War and the USSR, the spinoff could draw parallels to real-world events and highlight the global discontent sparked by such situations.
Although Lundgren mentioned that MGM is currently focused on developing Creed IV, his optimistic outlook for the Drago spinoff suggests that it will likely move forward. While there were speculations of a potential confrontation between Viktor and Jonathan Majors' character, Dame, recent legal troubles surrounding the latter actor make it unlikely for him to return to the franchise.
Regardless of the specific direction the movie takes, Lundgren's insights indicate that Drago has immense potential to match the success of Creed. Fans can eagerly anticipate what promises to be an engaging and compelling addition to the Rocky franchise.
