UB Spotlight: Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler + Cast Talk ‘Creed III’

“Creed III” is the latest installment in the hit franchise and is Michael B. Jordan‘s directorial debut.

In Theaters and IMAX this Friday March 3rd via MGM.

Writers Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin penned the script from a story they crafted with producer Ryan Coogler.

“Creed III” finds Donnie and his wife, Bianca—portrayed again by Tessa Thompson—at the dawn of a new era, with Bianca’s successful music career moving into producing and their young daughter, Amara, eager to learn boxing from her father.

Life has become more beautiful than Adonis ever imagined it could be, despite the health difficulties facing his beloved mother, Mary-Anne, the great Phylicia Rashad returning to the role.

Just as their future is looking bright, Adonis’s past delivers a power punch that he never saw coming. As a teen, Adonis was schooled in boxing by Damian “Dame” Anderson, an older kid from the juvenile center where Adonis lived.

When a violent street incident put the pair in danger, Dame wound up serving 18 years in prison. Upon release, he comes to Adonis looking for a life-changing chance at fighting Chavez for the title.

As circumstances line up for the unlikely match to happen, the intense result stuns the sports world and Adonis, who must confront the bitter and jealous man who was once his friend.

Michael B. Jordan’s Director’s Statement:

I wanted the characters in my film to face their disagreements while making a statement about humanity and its nuances, with empathy. How we handle and communicate our emotions is a part of our exploration of our inner self. In “Creed III,” the film shows the different roads, relationships and interactions of two men that made different choices, lived different lives and found themselves in the same ring.

I wanted my film to reflect lessons I have learned in life. Lessons about being kind to one another, but mostly kind to ourselves. Most of us have not been taught how to do that. I wanted my film to also tackle the issues of toxic masculinity and what happens when you don’t face your past, when you don’t talk about and work through your trauma and pain.

Forgiveness is the most integral part of any conflict because it is the only way to overcome what you’re up against and confronting yourself in a real way is how you move forward with healing. At the heart of “Creed III” is forgiveness. Forgiveness of self and others. No matter who you are, or what your circumstances are, you can overcome your past, you can overcome any obstacle.

This film is not about one man fighting another for a world title. It is about challenging yourself and proving to yourself that your existence is legitimate, that you deserve your blessings. Moving with grace for yourself and for others. Believing that you are who you say you are, and all that you’ve done actually matters.

UB Spotlight: Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler, Tessa Thompson and Jonathan Majors Talk “Creed III!”