Since Rocky premiered in 1976, the iconic boxing franchise has produced eight sequels or spin-offs. The latest, Creed III, is the first film in the series that doesn’t feature Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa (though Sly serves as one of its producers). That puts the focus of the movie—which opens March 3—squarely on the character of Adonis Creed, who is portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, the film’s director. The 36-year-old recently talked to Sports Illustrated about the film, taking on new responsibility and what the future might hold.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Sports Illustrated: Third Creed film—and your first as a director. How did that change the experience?
