The highly anticipated next installment of the Creed franchise is only a few months away, and fans of Adonis Creed can watch him square up with longtime friend Damian in Creed III. MGM recently revealed a featurette for the film, with star Michael B. Jordan talking about what it’s like to step into the shoes of Adonis once more, this time as his directorial debut:

Jordan previously said that directing himself is ’like having a superpower,’ and took advice from other actors who have done the same. The Creed franchise continues in the footsteps of the Rocky saga, as Adonis is the son of one of Rocky Balboa’s opponents, Apollo Creed. Sylvester Stallone similarly directed himself in Rocky II and beyond, and appeared in the first two Creed films, but he will not have a part in the upcoming film.

“Adonis Creed. I’ve been living with this character for eight years. We laughed, cheered, cried together. A core pillar of this franchise is figuring out who you really are and what’s worth fighting for. In Creed III, I wanted to know what Adonis’s limits were. So, to be able to finally step behind the camera and continue to elevate and evolve this story - it’s something im eternally grateful for.”

Creed III Will Be the First Sports Movie Shot on IMAX

     United Artists Releasing/Total Film

While IMAX filming is typically equated to sci-fi spectacles and is less common with more grounded, realistic genres, Jordan says the experience will allow audiences to properly ‘immerse’ themselves into the story:

It’s an interesting choice, and a bold one, considering that IMAX filming comes with its own challenges. Director Michael B. Jordan will have the help of seasoned cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, who has experience with previous IMAX films such as Thor: The Dark World. Morgenthau also served as cinematographer for Creed II.

“This is the first sports film to be shot on IMAX cameras. With the IMAX experience, you can take in that environment in a way that you normally wouldn’t. We’re able to see every bead of sweat, every impact, the ripples in the skin, the sounds of the footsteps, the punches, the music, the lack of sound, and really immerse yourself into the entire world.”

Jordan also spoke about his goals for the film. To him, it’s not just about entertainment, but it’s also about inspiring audiences:

You can watch the full featurette below:

“Everybody has a past, everybody has things they wish they could have done differently. So, to be able to see a character like Adonis go through some of those things - I hope audiences walk away feeling inspired and have the courage to do something you normally wouldn’t do. I want them to walk away from this movie feeling better than they did when they walked in. I think that’s something that’s powerful about cinema.”

Creed III will release in theaters on March 23rd, 2023. Directed by Michael B. Jordan, the story is written by Ryan Coogler, Keenan Coogler, and Zach Baylin. Co-stars include Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, and Wood Harris.