EXCLUSIVE: Belief has already broken ground for Amazon, with the latest installment in the MGM movie franchise, creed III, achieving a worldwide opening of more than $100 million and setting a box office record for the technology giant. Now Belief could spawn an Amazon universe encompassing both film and TV. There have been meetings with franchise star and filmmaker Michael B. Jordan on several Belief-related projects over the past year, sources said. Plans for the scope of the universe have become more daring over time Creed III’s big debut. Amazon and Jordan representatives declined to comment.
Details are sketchy as some talks are still in an exploratory stage, but we’re hearing that an anime series related to the rocky spin-off IP is in the works and there are ideas for a companion live-action TV series. Also seeping is a possible project involving Adonis Creed’s daughter Amara, who was played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent in Creed IIImaking her acting debut in film.
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As previously announced, there is one Drago spin-off movie in the works at MGM, written by Robert Lawton. That movie would focus on Rocky Balboa’s enemy, Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), and his son Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), who was introduced as Creed’s opponent in Creed II. There was some talk that the Drago offshoot could lend itself to a series, but according to sources, the intention remains to keep it as a movie. So far, a script has been ordered, but it is unclear if it will be made.
Of course there is also the prospect of more Belief feature episodes, with several other ideas also thrown in for live action and animated films.
Jordan told Deadline on the last week Creed III premiere that “building the Belief universe is something I am very excited about.” Through three movies, the Belief franchise is approaching the half-billion dollar mark at the global box office.
RELATED: ‘Creed III’: Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors Face Off in Super Bowl Trailer
Building a Creed universe could be a test case that shows Amazon’s ambitions for MGM, which the company acquired for $8.5 billion a year ago. Since the deal closed, Amazon Studios has been actively talking about mining IP’s MGM library, starting with 007’s road to a milliona competitive reality series based on the iconic spy, which was immediately greenlit after the transaction was completed.
And there’s the mothership rocky franchise. Nothing tangible yet, but talks have been going on for years about exploring the iconic boxer’s story — including his origins — long before MGM was acquired by Amazon. If and when something comes together, it’s expected that the creator and star of the franchise, Sylvester Stallone, will be involved.
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