Ryan Coogler Didn’t Direct Creed II Because Of “Timing”
Although the first Creed movie was a massive success, writer and director Ryan Coogler did not return to direct Creed II. The Rocky franchise began in 1976 with Sylvester Stallone playing the titular boxer, and it had been unclear if there would be another movie in the series after 2006’s Rocky Balboa. However, 2015’s Creed, which follows Adonis Creed, the son of fan favorite character Apollo Creed, revitalized the franchise and received outstanding reviews.
In an interview with Variety, Coogler revealed that he did not direct Creed II because of timing. After Creed, Coogler started working on Black Panther, and even though he hinted that the studio rushed Creed II to meet its 2018 release date, he still cared deeply for the people involved in the project.
Coogler was open to returning to direct Creed II if the timing had worked out better, but Steven Caple Jr. ultimately directed the sequel. Despite not being as well-received as the first film, Creed II was still a commercial success, earning over $214 million at the box office and receiving an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Michael B. Jordan stepped into the director’s chair for Creed III, making him the first returning director in the series. Creed III was another commercial and critical success, leading to Creed 4 being greenlit, with Jordan set to direct. Despite Coogler not returning to direct Creed II, the Creed series has still been incredibly successful.
Every Creed movie has received impressive reviews, with Creed having a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Creed II an 83%, and Creed III an 89%. The franchise has been praised for bringing new energy to the Rocky legacy, and further sequels and spin-offs are under consideration.
