'Fruitvale Station' duo in talks for Apollo Creed movie

Ryan Coogler, the promising young director of Fruitvale Station, is planning to re-team with his film’s leading man, Michael B. Jordan, for his next film. But it won’t be another harrowing social commentary about race in America that relies on the festival circuit for its buzz.

As Deadline initially reported, the duo are in talks to join Sylvester Stallone in a clever extension of the Rocky Balboa franchise for MGM. Titled Creed, the movie centers on the wealthy grandson of Apollo Creed, the heavyweight champion of the world who first battled Balboa, then became his trainer, and later was killed in the ring by Soviet boxing robot Ivan Drago. Jordan would play the late champ’s grandson, who, despite his privileged background, is lured into the fight game and turns to Balboa for guidance.

“It is incredible that Rocky’s journey had come to a fulfilling end,” said Stallone, in a statement. “What is even more incredible is that it is going to continue thanks to MGM and a brilliant vision from a talented new director.”

The last Rocky movie, 2006’s Rocky Balboa — the sixth in the series — earned more than $70 million at the box office.