Michael B. Jordan’s upcomingCreed 4doesn’t have to make up for the disappointment of a previous movie, like Sylvester Stallone’sRocky IVdid back in the day. Although it’s been pushed backso Jordan can direct a new remake ofThe Thomas Crown Affair,Creed 4is in active developmentafter the blockbuster success of the first three movies. WhereverCreed 4takes Adonis’ story, it has a lot to live up to after a near-flawless trilogy.
So far, theCreedseries has more or less followed the trajectory ofthe originalRockymovies. The first one was about an underdog proving his mettle in the ring; the second one was about a fighter taking on an old rival; and the third one was about a famous boxer defending his title against a powerful new challenger. But it’s looking likeCreed 4will be a very different movie thanRocky IV— not only because there’s no Apollo figure in Donnie’s life, but becausetheCreedfranchise is in a much different place than theRockyfranchise was.
Creed 4 Is Coming Off The Back Of A Strong Third Movie; Rocky IV Did Not
When Stallone madeRocky IV, he had to make up for the disappointment ofRocky III.Rockyhad been hailed as one of the greatest movies ever made andRocky II, while it wasn’t as highly acclaimed, provided a satisfying sequel. ButRocky IIIwas met with mixed reviews;Rocky IVhad to be great to save the franchise. If it had been a disappointment likeRocky III, it could’ve meant the untimely end of Stallone’s saga. Coming offCreed III, arguably the strongestCreedfilm to date,Jordan doesn’t have that problem going intoCreed 4.
What Went Wrong With Rocky III
It Turned The Rocky Series Into A Villain-Of-The-Week Comic Book
The problem withRocky IIIis thatit turned Rocky into a comic book hero facing a different supervillain in each new chapter. The first film was a gritty, grounded story about a young fighter, eager to prove himself on the circuit. After being challenged to an unwinnable fight against a champion as a publicity stunt, he gives it his all. In the second film, he trains for a rematch with the same champion, growing as a character in the process.
Rocky III established the villain-of-the-week formula of a formidable new fighter coming in to challenge Rocky to a climactic showdown.
Rocky IIIestablished the villain-of-the-week formula of a formidable new fighter coming in to challenge Rocky to a climactic showdown. Wisecracking badass Clubber Lang paved the way for Soviet superman Ivan Drago and sadistic youngblood Tommy Gunn.TheRockysaga stopped being a love story and a character studyand just became a series of shallow boxing pictures.Creed 4is in good stead, because theCreedfilms have yet to fall into this trap.
