MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection
EXCLUSIVE: Creed has already paved the way for Amazon with the latest installment in the MGM film franchise, Creed III, racking up a global opening of over $100 million and setting a box office record for the tech giant. NOW Creed could spawn an Amazon universe spanning both film and TV. There have been meetings with franchise star and filmmaker Michael B. Jordan about various Creed– related projects over the past year, sources said. Plans for the expanse of the universe have become bolder in the wake of Creed III’this is the great beginning. Representatives for Amazon and Jordan declined to comment.
Details are sketchy as some of the conversations are still in the exploratory stage, but we learn that an anime series tied to the Rocky spin-off IP is in the works, and there are ideas for a live-action television series. There’s also a potential project centered around Adonis Creed’s daughter, Amara, who was played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent in Creed IIImaking his film debut.
As previously announced, there was a Draco spin-off film in preparation at MGM, written by Robert Lawton. The spin-off would center on Rocky Balboa’s nemesis, Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), and his son, Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu) who was introduced as Creed’s adversary in Creed II. There had been talks that the Drago offshoot could end up in a series but, according to sources, the intention remains to keep it as a movie. So far, a script has been commissioned, and it is not yet known if it will be made.
Of course, there is also the prospect of more Creed feature films, with various other ideas also floated for live-action and animated films.
Jordan told Deadline last week at the Creed III first that “build the Creed the universe is something that really excites me. Through three films, the Creed franchise is approaching the half-billion mark at the global box office.
Building a Creed universe could be a test of Amazon’s ambitions for MGM, which the company acquired for $8.5 billion. Since closing the deal a year ago, Amazon Studios has actively discussed exploiting IP’s MGM library, starting with The road to a million 007an iconic spy-based reality series, which was greenlit immediately after the deal closed.
And there is the mothership Rocky franchise. There’s nothing tangible yet, but there has been talk of exploring the iconic boxer’s story – including his origins – for years, long before MGM was acquired by Amazon. If and when something falls into place, franchise creator and star Sylvester Stallone should be involved.