by: Jay Carlson – Editor-in-chief

Creed was both a unanimous hit, both critically and commercially earning over $100 million in the United States. Most never doubted that a sequel would in the pipeline and it looks like Sylvester Stallone has some ideas.

Stallone, possibly tipping his hand about Ryan Coogler’s involvement with Marvel’s Black Panther tells Variety, “I know Ryan is probably going to be gone for a couple years.” He continues, So there will be a quandary on: Do we work with another director and have Ryan produce, or do we wait? There’s a diminishing time acceptance of a sequel. Now they are cranking them out in a year.”

MGM CEO Gary Barber says, “There’s no doubt that we’re making a ‘Creed 2.”

Variety reports that Coogler and Stallone have come up with some ideas about where the sequel might go, “One version of the story would take place in the past, which would mean — in a surprise that would energize the franchise’s fans — bringing back Carl Weathers to play Apollo Creed, who died in 1985’s “Rocky IV.” Stallone elaborates on the concept a bit, “Think of ‘The Godfather 2.’ That’s what he was thinking of, which was kind of ambitious.”

Stallone continues, “You’ll have him face a different opponent, which I would say is a more ferocious, big Russian You can start to meld my experiences and then you start to bring different cultures into it. And you can see what’s happening with the Russians today in America. The complication will come with the girl’s ambition, because she’s not Adrian. She has places to go, things to see, the clock is running on her hearing.”

I loved Creed and would love to see a sequel, but I’d be leery of pushing it forward too quickly without Coogler writing and directing again. So many sequels fail because they’re trying to strike while the iron is hot to cash in and don’t take the time to craft something that stands up with the original. As much as I’d love to see Carl Weathers back in the ring, I think it’s a little far-fetched to attempt what Stallone is suggesting. You might as well bring back Clubber Lang and Thunderlips if this is the avenue you’re looking to take. Make it a Rocky cinematic universe, since Hollywood loves them so much.

What did you think of Creed? What do you think would make a good sequel? Leave a comment!