2015’s Creed revitalised the boxing franchise thanks to director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan. The follow-up, Creed II, was left in the hands of Steven Caple Jr. after Coogler went on to direct Black Panther, and kept the franchise afloat despite not nearing the acclaim of the first film.
Since then, we haven’t heard much about a third Creed instalment, but it looks like MGM may have found its writer for the project.
Zach Baylin has been hired to pen the script for Creed III. If that name isn’t familiar to you, don’t fret, he’s still an up-and-comer by Hollywood standards. Though maybe only for a little while longer. Baylin’s screenplay King Richard appeared on the 2018 Black List, and is currently in production.
That film is about Richard Williams, the tough-as-nails tennis coach and father of tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams.
Will Smith will star in the title role with Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton playing the younger versions of Venus and Serena, respectively. Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters And Men) is directing, while Warner Bros. is releasing the film; the studio which is also distributing Creed III.
That connection probably helped get Baylin the gig. But the basis of King Richard makes him sound like a perfect choice to helm a Creed film considering the thematic similarities between the competitive drive of the characters, as well as the complicated masculinity at the centre of the subjects.
Baylin is only the first domino to fall for Creed III though. A director is not yet attached, and a shooting schedule isn’t yet in place due to how busy its stars are. So this thing isn’t close to going into production yet, but the first step has been made. Perhaps once a director is attached, we can start looking for gaps in Jordan’s schedule and get this thing rolling.
#Peace.Love.Creed
