FilmmakerRyan Coogleris now surely one of the most in-demand directors in Hollywood, fresh off the record-breaking box office and critical success ofBlack Panther, but he’s been on everyone’s radar for some time now. Coogler took a more traditional path to a blockbuster. He first broke out with his Sundance indieFruitvale Station, also starringMichael B. Jordan, but instead of going straight to aJurassic Parksequel or something, Coogler next made a mid-budget studio film:Creed. As it happens, Coogler brought the same level of emotion, thoughtfulness, and tact toCreedas he did to the true-storyFruitvale Station, and the result was aRockysequel/reboot that stood as its own incredible film.
Creedwas a smashing success and no doubt led to Coogler helmingBlack Panther, but fans were disappointed to hear that Coogler wouldn’t be back writing and directingCreed 2. Most assumed Coogler’s non-involvement had to do with the timing of the sequel, as it rubbed up against his schedule onBlack Panther, and in a new interview withKristopher Tapleyon Variety’s Playback podcast, Coogler confirms exactly why he’s not directingCreed 2:
“I mean of course it was possible.Creedwas about my dad and me, so it’s a movie that I find difficult to watch. It’s difficult for me to even think about it, I’ve got so many emotional ties to it, not to mention you know how much I care about the people involved. I care deeply for Mike, obviously, deeply for Tessa, and I grew incredibly close with Sly in making that. These are people that I wanna see do well and win at all costs. There’s timing, and that film for whatever reason it had to go when it’s going. I think it’s a blessing that it’s going, man. It’s amazing that they found an incredible filmmaker in Steven Caple Jr., who’s a guy I actually went to film school with, who I have a lot of love and respect for. I can’t wait to see what he does with it.”
Indeed, MGM and Warner Bros. announced theCreed 2release date back in January 2016, when Coogler was just getting started prepping his two-year journey withBlack Panther. That initialCreed 2release date was November 2017, so clearly the studios were in a hurry to get this thing going.
That release date didn’t stick, butCreed 2is now set to start filming imminently asSteven Caple Jr.(The Land) was tapped to take the helm in December afterSylvester Stallonebriefly flirted with directing this one himself. Coogler has basically no involvement in this sequel, as Stallone wrote theCreed 2script withLuke CageshowrunnerCheo Hodari Coker, but Michael B. Jordan returns to the starring role in a story that finds him squaring off with Ivan Drago’s (Dolph Lundgren) son.
Even with the release date delay (Creed 2is now set to hit theaters on June 23, 2025), Coogler couldn’t have possibly directed this one on that timetable. He’s a guy who writes his own scripts or at least is deeply involved in the screenwriting process, which means months of development takes place before filming even begins. Coogler is currently in the midst of the press tour forBlack Pantherafter finishing that Marvel marathon, after which he’ll no doubt want some sort of reprieve, so this one just wasn’t in the cards.
Luckily it sounds like Coogler has nothing but well wishes for everyone involved, and he’s gonna have no trouble at all finding his next project. In fact, while franchise blockbusters will no doubt come calling, Coogler already lined up a new project months ago: a drama calledWrong Answerabout a real-life math teacher in Atlanta who had to alter standardized test scores in order to secure funding for the school and students. Jordan is set to star, andTa-Nehisi Coatesis writing the screenplay. So while Coogler may or may not be heading to a galaxy far, far away at some point in time, it’s clear the guy is still intent on telling important, smaller-scale stories as well.
Listen to the full podcast interview below.
