Jonathan Majors is pairing with Michael B. Jordan for Creed III, and their relationship was tested throughout the production process. Jordan is making his directorial debut with the third Creed film, while Majors is joining for the first time as Damian “Dame” Anderson, Adonis Creed’s childhood friend who has spent the better part of his life in prison.

Majors recently sat down for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where he discussed trading punches with his own director and the bond they formed while filming Creed III. Though he jokes about the tension between the two, the actor ultimately feels as though he and Jordan are “actual brothers.”

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Fans can see Majors alongside Jordan when Creed III arrives in theaters later next year, premiering on March 3, 2023.

“It was like a sick dream. (Laughs.) I’m sure the stories will come out as we go, but there were moments where I was like, ‘Did Mike hit me, or did Adonis hit me? I’m not sure. And did I hit Mike, or did I hit my director?’ That was probably the most fun, a different type of fun. You’re there with your brother. Michael and I were fast friends, and then we became actual brothers. I just love him. He knows it. I love him so much. I love you so much, Mike! He is my boy. I am his boy. And yeah, it was intense. You can only strike somebody like that or go after somebody like that if you’ve got a deep amount of respect and love for him. But when a director gives you a note that you don’t really understand, you can give it right back to him. You can make him pay for it. (Laughs).”

Creed III Adds Some New Faces While Losing a Familiar One

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Jonathan Majors is making his debut in the Creed franchise, a welcome addition to the expanding cast. Tessa Thompson, Selenis Leyva, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, Phylicia Rashad, Tony Bellew, and Canelo Álverez join him alongside Michael B. Jordan. Unfortunately, the star who launched the boxing franchise won’t return in Creed III, as Sylvester Stallone won’t appear.

The actor, who rose to stardom in 1976 with Rocky, shared his reasoning for exiting the picture, with creative differences between himself and producer Irwin Winkler being the main reason.

This will be the first movie connected to the Rocky franchise that doesn’t feature an appearance from Stallone. The actor portrayed the character for six installments in the mainline movies, before appearing in both Creed and Creed II. So will Creed III be able to survive without the Italian Stallion? Fans will find out later next year, on March 3.

“That’s a regretful situation because I know what it could have been. It was taken in a direction that is quite different than I would’ve taken it. It’s a different philosophy – Irwin Winkler’s and Michael B. Jordan’s. I wish them well, but I’m much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don’t want them going into that dark space. I just feel people have enough darkness.”