Michael B. Jordan steps into the ring in this exclusive Creed 2 image

The first Creed movie was both a sequel and a reboot: it was a continuation of Rocky Balboa’s story, but it also it also relaunched the series with a new lead in Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis ‘Donnie’ Creed.

But where Creed riffed on the first Rocky film, Creed 2 is most closely connected to Rocky 4, the film where Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) killed Creed Sr. in the ring and barely shrugged it off: “If he dies, he dies.” So this time it’s going to get very personal, as Donnie’s career put him on a collision course with the son of the man who killed his father. Professional fighter Florian Munteanu plays Viktor Drago in the sequel.

You can see Black Panther star Jordan once again donning the family’s signature stars and stripes trunks in this exclusive image, courtesy of our sister publication Total Film magazine, as he steps into the ring for his latest bout, with Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) watching from the sidelines. Take a look at the exclusive image for yourself below…

This time out, Creed director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Black Panther) steps back to act as producer, with Steven Caple Jr. now filling the director’s chair. Caple Jr. If you want to push the boxing analogy, Caple Jr. considers Coogler something of a mentor/coach. “We actually went to film school together,” Caple Jr. tells Total Film. “So he vouched for me. He was three years ahead of me, his last year was my first year, and that’s where we became tight. Years after, we stayed in touch.” Feels rather fitting for a film about living up to a legacy.

And Caple Jr. has a personal connection to the franchise too, having grown up a huge fan of the franchise. “I remember being sad after Rocky 4 when Apollo died,” he says. “So directing Creed 2, with Drago back, is a cool circle."

Creed 2 opens in the US on November 21, and in the UK on November 30, and you can read more about it in the new issue of Total Film magazine when it hits shelves this Friday, September 21. Inside you’ll also find the latest on Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Bumblebee, as well as in-depth features and interviews for First Man, Halloween, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, Overlord, and much more.

And if you’re a fan of the mag, why not subscribe so that you never miss an issue? If you sign up, My Favourite Magazines will deliver every new issue through your letterbox before it hits shelves, and you’ll save money on the cover price. What’s not to like?