The new film also has echoes of 1979’sRocky II, with a deepening romantic relationship and an expanding family.
(Coogler remained an executive producer on the sequel.)
“I had a lot of freedom to play with them because they already knew their characters.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You must have been excited to get back into this world.
I thought there was an opportunity to do something nice with ours in terms of an homage to that.
Mike is producing on this one.
But you’ve also added touches that will resonate specifically with black audiences.
Was that intentional?JORDAN:Yes.
One thousand percent intentional.
You know, what black love would be like, what are the things that we would be doing?
Like, if she needed help taking out her hair, that’s what I would do.
And the folks that were engaging were all sorts of people.
To me, that does a tremendous amount to humanize our experience.
You worked with a new director on this one, Steven Caple Jr.
I think it would be pretty stale just to repeat what somebody else did.
You’ve had interesting career parallels.
We’re adulting now!
Like, how weird is this?
“THOMPSON:Except our characters are a skosh ahead of us in terms of adulting.
‘Cause they’re actually, like, parents.
They’re really committing to each other.
[Laughs]
Was that mix of big and small a specific career choice?JORDAN:Intentional.
In the beginning, I always wanted to do independent films.
How do you become international?
It’s a good balance.THOMPSON:[Laughs] Says the mini-mogul.
I make fun of him because I admire it.
And that sort of forward thinking and ownership over destiny and legacy.
[To Jordan] It’s something I’m inspired by in you.
I never thought about making big movies because I just couldn’t see myself inside of them.
I was working with two indie filmmakers, Ryan [Coogler] and Michael.
Because to me, that’s the future.
I really love going in between each.
Not just in terms of other jobs.
There are few film franchises like this, spanning over 40 years.
The perspective has switched, but Rocky remains constant.
How does it feel to be part of that?
That’s sort of embedded into the DNA of the movie and is something that resonates with audiences.
Have fans relayed those stories to you?JORDAN:Yes.
It’s not corny at all.
It’s to help people dream, to get over hard times, as an escape from their reality.
TheRockyfilms, they did that.
If theCreedfranchise can have that same effect, I think we’ve done our job.
“You motivated me to stick to this diet.”
So, yeah, I’ve experienced that, for sure.
And the power of family and community.
I know this does sound cheesy, but I’m going to own it.
I don’t care, because I think it’s really important.
Are you guys game forCreed 3?4?5?
Where?JORDAN: At one of the press things for[Black]Panther.
I was like, “Oh s, what’s up?
“THOMPSON:Wow!JORDAN: Anyway, side note.
This is like my baby, in a sense, this is my first franchise.
You all have such strong chemistry.
Have you thought of doing anything outside of the world ofCreed?JORDAN:Me and her working together?
No hesitation here.THOMPSON:Yeah, I would like it.
It’d be interesting to see us play something that’s against our dynamic.
Both of you have action figures of your characters Killmonger and Valkyrie.
Tell the truth, have you played with your toys?JORDAN:Oh, yes.
I have mine in my kitchen above the sink.
There’s, like, a funny little mash-up of women just chilling there when I wash the dishes.
[To Jordan] I don’t have Killmonger, I’m so sorry.
Michael, do you have Valkyrie?JORDAN:I don’t.
I don’t have a lot, though.
I’ll get it.THOMPSON:[With a smile] I’ll give it to you.
I have an extra one.
(This interview has been edited and condensed.)
