With the upcoming release of her latest feature, Sorry to Bother You, it’s time to start looking ahead to the next appearance from everyone’s favorite Panamanian-Mexican-American actress, Tessa Thompson. She’s slayed the comic book world, she’s appeared in the most bizarre of sci-fi and comedies, and now she returns to the gritty world of the Rocky series with the sequel to 2015 reboot of the boxing franchise, Creed II.
“This is more than just a fight,” the audience is told at the end of the two-minute trailer for Creed II. The sequel to Ryan Coogler’s boxing series continues to follow Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the son of boxing legend, Apollo Creed. The trailer indicates Creed II takes place several months after the first feature as we see Adonis in a relationship with Tessa Thompson’s Bianca and the two have a little girl. But despite Bianca reminding him he doesn’t need “validation,” Adonis needs to get involved in another fight, this one involving the son of Ivan Drago, the man who killed Apollo Creed in the ring years ago. The trailer certainly pumps up the drama with quick cutting of the requisite training montage and a pounding soundtrack. Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa is there to dispense wisdom about life giving out “cheap shots.” The actual boxing footage is reserved to the trailer’s final minutes, with the words “DRAGO” taking up the frame to show how intense everything will be. Again, “this is more than just a fight.”
The trailer for this sequel feels different from how the first Creed was marketed. Director Ryan Coogler didn’t return to direct or write the script. Instead director Steven Caple, Jr. is at the helm. Tessa Thompson’s Bianca made an impression in the first film, so here’s hoping that she’s given just as much to do. The trailer has her reacting for the most part, or presenting words of support (“you got this”). Thompson often makes the most of supporting characters so there are expectations she’ll shine in this.
Creed II hits theaters November 21, 2018.