‘Creed’ Enters the Ring With Rocky in Several New Clips

In a few weeks the Rocky franchise will return with a bit of a new direction, centering on Adonis Johnson, the son of Rocky Balboa’s former friend and legendary boxing opponent Apollo Creed. Warner Bros. has released several new clips (compiled above) from Creed, showing off some dramatic and intimate character work, and obviously saving the best stuff (the boxing) for the theatrical release.

It’s pretty admirable of WB to hold back on letting us see too much of Michael B. Jordan in the boxing ring, instead relying on the strength of his current (and well-earned) popularity along with the draw of Sylvester Stallone’s return as Rocky. Presumably, much of the actual fighting will make up the bulk of the climax, and while that stuff is certainly exciting, the new clips from Creed prove that director Ryan Coogler has his drama on lockdown.

Creed reunites Coogler with his Fruitvale Station star Jordan, and is described as follows:

Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Creed also stars Phylicia Rashad, Anthony Bellew and Tessa Thompson (Dear White People), and hits theaters on November 20.