'Creed': Is torch-passing a successful Hollywood strategy?
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
The title of the movie may be 鈥淐reed,鈥� but Rocky鈥檚 there, too.
The upcoming movie 鈥淐reed鈥� stars 鈥淔antastic Four鈥� actor Michael B. Jordan as Adonis Johnson, aspiring boxer and son of Rocky Balboa鈥檚 famous opponent Apollo Creed. Adonis is trained by Rocky (Sylvester Stallone).
The new film is the newest in the 鈥淩ocky鈥� series after the 2006 film 鈥淩ocky Balboa,鈥� which also stars Stallone and brought on Milo Ventimiglia as his son Robert. 鈥淏alboa鈥� was the sixth in the series.聽
This new film brings a fresh focus to the story, with Rocky appearing but the story centering on Adonis.
鈥淐reed鈥� is the newest in a line of film series that have brought back actors who previously appeared in beloved installments but also recruited new talent.聽
Bringing on actors from previous installments serves as comfort to fans of the original movies, but bringing on new talent preserves the possibility of future films, especially if original actors are older. It's safe to say Hollywood always wants the new possibility of more movies.
In one example, the first three 鈥淚ndiana Jones鈥� films star Harrison Ford and for the fourth, 2008鈥檚 鈥淚ndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,鈥� Ford appeared but so did actor Shia LaBeouf as his son Mutt.聽The possibility of Mutt taking on the role of lead adventurer is teased as overtly as it could be at the end of 鈥淪kull鈥�; Mutt picks up Indy鈥檚 famous hat and almost puts it on.
Sometimes this strategy can be the saving grace, if any, of a film. This summer鈥檚 鈥淭erminator Genisys鈥� brought back actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred in previous 鈥淭erminator鈥� installments, and also recruited new talent like 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� actress Emilia Clarke. The movie was negatively received, but some reviewers praised Schwarzenegger鈥檚 performance.聽
This plan will be used in what is possibly the most high-profile example of all come this December. The upcoming 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� film, 鈥淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens,鈥� stars original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill but also brings on new talent like actors Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega. Presumably Isaac, Ridley, and/or Boyega鈥檚 characters could star in new adventures if the series moves forward and Ford, Fisher, and Hamill want out.
So far, 鈥淐reed鈥� is getting good reviews, so the 鈥淩ocky鈥� series at least seems to have succeeded with this strategy.
