There are a lot of challenges making the transition over to the director's chair, especially when one is still starring in the film. However, Michael B. Jordan couldn't have asked for better help, as the actor recently revealed the directing advice he received from Denzel Washington and Bradley Cooper for the upcoming Creed 3.
Like Jordan with MGM's Creed 3, Washington and Cooper are no strangers to taking on the directing role. Washington's directorial debut came in 2002 with Antwone Fisher, followed by The Debaters, Fences, and last year's A Journal for Jordan, in which Jordan starred. Cooper's A Star is Born remake was his debut, and he is currently filming his sophomore film, Maestro, for a 2023 release.
Speaking to Empire in the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 issue, Jordan talked about transitioning to the director's chair and following in the footsteps of Sylvester Stallone, who not only starred as the iconic Rocky character but helped pen the script for all the films and directed three entries. “I was pretty anxious going into it, wondering what that would be like. ‘Who’s calling action and cut? Is that me?!'" Jordan said.
But luckily, Jordan had some help on Creed 3. “Talking with Denzel [Washington] and Bradley Cooper and others who have directed themselves, they told me you have to find your groove and your pace with your first AD and actors,” he explained. “But it’s also like having a superpower: within your performance, you can also direct. It saves some time in some areas, because you get a chance to self-correct in the moment. So that’s a liberating experience to have. It became fun after a while.”
While Jordan's main challenge was filling the directing duty, Adonis' is taking on Jonathan Majors' Damian Anderson, the new adversary who is not only physically intimidating but one with ties to Adonis' past. “I think he has an intensity and a realness of character we haven’t seen before,” Jordan teased. “He’s a grounded character who’s antagonistic by nature, but it comes from an honest place, real emotions. He’s not a moustache-twirling villain; I wanted people to understand him, and to make it hard for people. I think those make for the most complicated and interesting ones to watch.” Based on Jordan's comments, Creed 3 has been in good hands and looks to build upon the success of its predecessors.
Set five years after Creed 2, Adonis continues to dominate the boxing world and thrives in his family life. However, when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy (played by Majors) returns, he must put that aside to battle his former friend in a fight that is more than just about boxing. In addition to its two leads, the film stars Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad and Florian Munteanu. Black Panther 2 director Ryan Coogler, Keenan Coogler, and Zach Baylin wrote the story, with Keenan Coogler and Baylin penning the screenplay.
Creed III will release in theatres on March 3, 2023.
Source: Empire