A brand new and extremely intense trailer has dropped for Creed II, which confirms the return of the most notorious character from the Rocky series.
Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) killed Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed’s (Michael B. Jordan) father, Apollo, in the ring three decades ago, during an exhibition match.
Now, Creed will fight Drago’s equally brutal looking son, Viktor Drago (played by professional boxer, Florian Munteanu), in what’s sure to be a deeply personal and emotional bout.
To make the event even more emotionally charged, Drago Sr. himself will be making a return, giving his first appearance in the franchise since Rocky IV.
And the trailer will give you chills – check it out:
This trailer shows Creed consumed by the challenge set for him by Drago Snr., neglecting his relationship and his thoughts for his own safety.
One tense scene shows Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) begging Creed not to go ahead with the fight, pleading:
He [Drago Snr.] broke things in me that ain’t never been fixed. It ain’t worth it.
The eerily quiet Drago Snr.’s evil crime permeates throughout the trailer, with the pain he’s inflicted on both Creed and Rocky evident in every shot.
Later in the trailer, Creed asserts he wants to ‘rewrite history’, suggesting he’s determined to create a new, victorious legacy for his murdered father. At another point he can be seen paying his respects at Apollo’s grave.
The return of the ruthless Russian has elicited great excitement among fans, who particularly enjoyed the bitter stare off between old rivals Drago Snr. and Rocky.
One person exclaimed:
I’ve been waiting for this since Rocky IV premiered in 1985… Apollo’s son against Drago’s son. Now, 33 years later, it finally happened! Can’t wait for the movie! [sic]
Another prophesied:
This is gonna be better than Creed. Ivan Drago is my favourite Rocky opponent and he’s back. [sic]
Directed by Steven Caple Jr., with a screenplay from Sylvester Stallone and Cheo Hodari Coker, this has the potential for a true boxing movie classic.
According to the official synopsis from MGM and Warner Brothers:
Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life.
Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family.
Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.
As Drago Jr. towers ferociously above Creed, it’s genuinely nerve-wracking to consider the monster our hero is going up against; shaped by violence and cruelty.
However, if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the eternally beloved Rocky films, it’s to never give up on the underdog. And Creed has learnt from the best.
Creed II will punch into UK cinemas as of November 30 2018. Grab yourself a ringside seat.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.