The Rocky franchise took a new turn in 2015 with Creed, introducing Adonis Creed, the son of Apollo Creed, and shifting the focus away from Rocky Balboa. While the film brought in fresh faces, longtime fans still found plenty of connections to the classic Rocky movies. From callbacks to Stallone’s past work to real-life boxing legends appearing on screen, here’s a deep dive into the best Creed movie trivia.
1. The First Rocky Movie Not Written by Stallone
Unlike the previous six films, Creed is the first installment in the franchise that Sylvester Stallone didn’t write. Instead, the script was penned by Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington, marking a major shift in creative control.
2. A Nod to Rocky’s Famous Line
During training, Adonis wears a shirt with the phrase: “Why do I wanna fight? Because I can’t sing and dance.” This is a direct callback to Rocky (1976), where Rocky Balboa said the same thing to Adrian on their ice-skating date.
3. Carl Weathers Gave His Stamp of Approval
Though Apollo Creed died in Rocky IV, his presence looms large over Creed. Carl Weathers, who portrayed Apollo, gave Michael B. Jordan’s performance a strong endorsement, which Jordan called a huge honor.
4. Sylvester Stallone’s Personal Tragedy Shaped the Film
While Creed was in pre-production, Stallone’s eldest son, Sage Stallone, passed away from a heart attack. Initially, Stallone didn’t want to be involved, but director Ryan Coogler convinced him that the film could be a way to honor Sage’s memory. Stallone later admitted that Creed helped him process his grief.
5. Real Boxers Were Cast for Authenticity
Several real-life boxing champions appeared in the film:
- Tony “The Bomber” Bellew as “Pretty” Ricky Conlan
- Andre “S.O.G.” Ward as Danny “Stuntman” Wheeler
- Gabriel Rosado as Leo “The Lion” Sporino
- Jacob “Stitch” Duran, one of the most respected cutmen in boxing and MMA, played himself
6. The Legacy of the American Flag Trunks
Stallone personally requested that Michael B. Jordan wear the famous American flag trunks, a tradition started by Apollo Creed in Rocky (1976). Rocky himself wore them in Rocky III (1982) and Rocky IV (1985), and Tommy Morrison wore them in Rocky V (1990).
7. An Alternate Ending Almost Killed Off Rocky
Early versions of the script had Rocky dying from ALS in the final act, but producer Irwin Winkler pushed back against the idea, feeling it wasn’t the right ending for the character.
8. A Tribute to Rocky Producer Robert Chartoff
Creed is dedicated to the late Robert Chartoff, who produced all of the Rocky movies. Chartoff passed away five months before the film’s release, making this movie his final contribution to the franchise.
9. Stallone Made One Small but Important Change
Originally, the script had a scene where Rocky wakes Adonis by splashing water on him. Stallone suggested changing it to Rocky dancing and playing music, saying it was a more in-character moment.
10. Tony Burton’s Duke Was Supposed to Return
There were early plans to bring back Apollo’s longtime trainer Duke, but actor Tony Burton’s health was failing at the time of filming. He sadly passed away three months after the film’s release.
11. Composer Ludwig Göransson Has a Cameo
Not only did Ludwig Göransson compose the film’s score, but he also made a brief on-screen appearance as one of Bianca’s bandmates.
12. An Early Draft of Creed Had a Different Adonis
In a much earlier version of the script, Adonis was going to be Apollo Creed’s grandson—the son of Apollo’s daughter, rather than his illegitimate son. This was later changed to make Adonis a direct descendant of Apollo.
