Former “All My Children” and “Fruitvale Station” actor Michael B. Jordan has been cast in the lead role opposite Sylvester Stallone in the newest chapter in the “Rocky” franchise entitled “Creed,” which is set to begin shooting this month in Philadelphia.
“Creed” is said to follow Jordan as Adonis Creed, grandson of the infamous Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers in the original “Rocky” through “Rocky IV”), who is forbidden by his family from entering the boxing ring, but does it anyway with the help of Rocky Balboa (Stallone), who he hires as his coach.
Set for a 2016 release, the film reunites Jordan with “Fruitvale Station” director Ryan Coogler, who will also direct “Creed.”
In addition to “Creed,” Jordan can next be seen in “The Fantastic Four” as Johnny Storm (aka: The Human Torch) in 20th Century Fox’s reboot of the film franchise, which also stars Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey and Tim Blake Nelson.
“It’s not your typical superhero film, you know, we aren’t looking at this as like, being superheroes. We’re more or less a bunch of kids that had an accident and we have disabilities now that we have to cope with, and try to find a life afterwards – try to be as normal as we can,” Jordan said last summer during filming of the “Fantastic” movie to MTV News.
“The Fantastic Four” is set for an August 7 release.