Michael B Jordan reveals smoldering chest in a shirtless photo for the first poster for 'Creed II'
Michael B Jordan was already highly regarded for his roles in 'The Wire,' 'All My Children,' and 'Friday Night Lights,' as well as 'Red Tail' and 'Chronicle,' but it was his portrayal of Erik Killmonger in Ryan Coogler's 'Black Panther' this year that arguably saw him gain some mainstream attention. Now, the actor is set to reunite with Coogler and reprise his role as Adonis Creed for the sequel of 2015's 'Creed.'
Set to be what is the seventh installment in the supremely popular 'Rocky' film series, the first poster for 'Creed II' has been released by Warner Bros and it already has fans of the star looking forward to the release with bated breath. Jordan's exemplary pecs and abs were the talks of the town following the release of 'Black Panther,' and it looks like the actor has maintained his physique for his intense and physically demanding role in the series.
It could be said that he looks even more ripped than last time with the cuts on his chest, abs, and biceps even more prominent. In a story that went viral after 'Black Panther' hit theaters, it was reported that a young girl was so overwhelmed by the sight of Jordan's physique that she bit through her retainer.
Jordan, of course, came to the rescue and offered to replace the dental equipment. If we take that as any indication, Jordan might find himself replacing many more retainers upon the release of 'Creed II' on November 21.
In the first installment of the franchise, Adonis, an underdog but talented light heavyweight boxer who never knew his famous father Apollo Creed, seeks out the help of Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa to help him train and become an elite boxer. The film was unanimously praised by critics and earned Stallone an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor; his first nomination since the original Rocky Balboa film.
'Creed II' will follow up on the story of its predecessor, with Adonis returning to work with Rocky to prepare for his big fight with Ivan Drago — the former Russian fighter who killed his father in the ring even before he was born.
An official description reads: "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 is worth fighting for, and discover that nothing is more important than family."
Also returning are Tessa Thompson as Bianca, Adonis' girlfriend, and Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed, Adonis' mother, with Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Andre Ward, and Wood Harris similarly reprising their roles.
Though Cougler wrote and directed 'Creed,' he will only be serving as an executive producer for the sequel, with Steven Caple Jr (The Land) taking over the reigns this time around. Stallone and Cheo Hodari Coker have penned the script.
