The Next Rocky Balboa Has Officially Been Chosen

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The announcement that filming for the Delphi series, a spinoff of Creed, is beginning confirms that the Rocky universe is expanding with a new story. The Rocky saga began in 1976 with Sylvester Stallone’s critically acclaimed and hugely popular sports drama, which won Best Picture. The original film by director John G. Avildsen was followed by four sequels, and then, in 2006, Sylvester Stallone wrote and directed a reboot titled Rocky Balboa.

After nearly ten years, the Rocky series was revived in 2015 with Creed, directed by Ryan Coogler (known for Sinners). The film, starring Michael B. Jordan, follows Adonis Creed, the ambitious son of Apollo Creed, as he pursues his boxing dreams with the help of an aging Rocky Balboa. Creed was a major hit with both critics and audiences, leading to two sequels: Creed II in 2018 and Creed III in 2023. Even now, over a decade later, Creed remains one of Jordan’s most celebrated films.

After more than a year of anticipation, the Delphi spinoff series is officially in production, allowing the Rocky saga to continue. The series, executive produced by Michael B. Jordan, is named after the famous Los Angeles gym where Apollo Creed, Adonis Creed, and Rocky Balboa all trained. Wood Harris will reprise his role as Little Duke, who now runs the gym, and the show will follow the new generation of boxers as they pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles.

Delphi Will Continue Creed’s Story Just Like Creed Followed In Rocky’s Footsteps

Jordan’s production company, Delphi, is taking the Creed/Rocky story forward with a new generation. Just as Creed successfully continued the franchise after Rocky, Delphi has the potential to broaden the scope beyond Jordan’s character. Because it’s a series, Delphi can explore the careers of multiple fighters at different points in their lives – something the films haven’t always been able to do due to their shorter length.

Many classic boxing films – like The Fighter, Bleed for This, Million Dollar Baby, Raging Bull, and the Creed series – appear quite different from one another. They vary in style and mood, but they all share a common trait: they center on a single boxer or a pair of competitors. Because boxing is an individual sport, these movies typically focus intensely on the personal journeys and rivalries of just one or two fighters.

The Rocky and Creed films always center the story on a single boxer, even with strong supporting characters. Delphi, however, has the opportunity to do something different by showcasing multiple fighters and their connections. Instead of following just one hero like Creed did as Rocky’s successor, Delphi could be similar to the Netflix series Cobra Kai, which expands the Karate Kid universe to explore a whole community of fighters and the complicated dynamics between them.

Boxing movies usually focus on just a few fighters, but the new show Delphi has a chance to be different. As a spin-off of the Rocky and Creed films, it could explore the wider world of boxing and follow multiple characters, similar to how Cobra Kai expanded the Karate Kid universe. Hopefully, Delphi will enrich the Rocky and Creed story by offering a fresh perspective when it premieres.

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2026-05-13 23:58