The 2015 film Creed marked a turning point in the Rocky series, shifting the focus away from Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character and introducing a new protagonist, Adonis Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan. While Stallone reprised his role as Rocky Balboa, the story was no longer about him, something that many longtime Rocky fans had mixed feelings about.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Creed followed Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, who seeks out Rocky Balboa as a trainer to help him make his own mark in boxing. Unlike the previous six Rocky films, Stallone did not write or direct this installment, making it the first time the character was handled by a new creative team.
Despite Stallone’s reduced creative control, his performance in Creed was widely recognized, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a Golden Globe win—his first major acting award in decades. This recognition underscored his enduring legacy as Rocky, even as the franchise’s direction changed.
The Origins of Creed
The concept for Creed originated with Ryan Coogler, who grew up watching the Rocky films and wanted to tell a story about Apollo Creed’s son. However, Sylvester Stallone was not immediately on board. Initially, Stallone was against the idea, feeling that Rocky’s story had already been properly concluded in Rocky Balboa (2006).
“I was dead set against it,” Stallone admitted. “I just didn’t ever see taking this character into this realm. Finally, my agent said, ‘For a guy who played Rocky, you’re kind of a chicken.’”
Coogler, along with co-writer Aaron Covington, eventually convinced Stallone to take part, but on their terms. This meant Rocky Balboa would no longer be the center of the story, instead taking on a mentor role to Adonis Creed.
Casting and Stallone’s Limited Influence
While Creed introduced Michael B. Jordan as the new lead, it also left out key members of the original Rocky cast. Burt Young (Paulie) and Tony Burton (Duke) did not return, leaving only Stallone’s Rocky as a remaining connection to the franchise’s roots.
Jordan, who had previously worked with Coogler on Fruitvale Station, was cast as Adonis Creed and underwent intense physical training to make his boxing skills look authentic. He even took real punches during filming to enhance the realism.
Tessa Thompson was brought on as Bianca, Adonis’s love interest, a character who paralleled Adrian Balboa but with a modernized storyline. Phylicia Rashad played Mary Anne Creed, Apollo’s widow, adding a link to the franchise’s past.
While Stallone had no creative control over the script, his portrayal of an aging, cancer-stricken Rocky was one of the film’s strongest elements. The performance was so well-received that it earned him his first acting nomination at the Oscars since the original Rocky in 1976.
Filming: Returning to Rocky’s Roots in Philadelphia
Despite Creed being a new chapter, the filmmakers chose to return to Philadelphia to film many of the key scenes. From January through March 2015, the production shot in several iconic Rocky locations, including:
- Mighty Mick’s Gym (with a redesigned sign)
- The Italian Market
- Adrian’s Restaurant
- The cemetery where Adrian and Paulie are buried
- The steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Although Stallone wasn’t writing or directing, his presence during filming was a major attraction. Fans gathered at shooting locations, hoping to catch a glimpse of him in his classic Rocky wardrobe—a dark M65 field jacket and his old blue wool fedora, which he had previously worn in Rocky, Rocky II, and Rocky V.
While Stallone was in front of the camera, however, his influence on the direction of the story was minimal, with Coogler steering the film’s creative vision.
The Release and Stallone’s Academy Award Nomination
The first official teaser trailer for Creed dropped in June 2015, coinciding with the release of Terminator Genisys. A longer international trailer followed in August, giving audiences a deeper look into Adonis’s journey and Rocky’s supporting role.
Upon its release, Creed was met with strong reviews from critics, though many longtime Rocky fans felt it lacked the heart of the original films.
One of the biggest surprises came when Sylvester Stallone received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor—his first Oscar nod since 1976. The performance also earned him a Golden Globe win, a Critics’ Choice Award, and several other accolades.
While the Creed series shifted focus away from Rocky Balboa, Stallone’s performance was widely regarded as the emotional core of the film. However, his involvement with the franchise would later decline, leading to well-documented tensions between Stallone and the studio over his lack of creative control.
