Editorial Staff
Considering the chunk of change “Creed 2” collected over the weekend, it’s a given that MGM are going to sanction another match between Adonis and the box office for the near future.
With Dolph Lundgen reprising his Ivan Drago (from “Rocky IV”) in the new film, journalists were hot to ask director Stephen Caple Jr whether – should be even direct the film – we might see another certain “Rocky” opponent return for the next installment.
“I’m not going to lie. There was a moment where I got pretty stingy and was thinking about Clubber Lang”, Caple speaks of the character played by Mr T in “Rocky 3”. “I was like, ‘Dang, wouldn’t it be cool if we brought in Clubber Lang?’ And I think there was a version of this where [Michael B. Jordan} was also talking about it too. Like him having a daughter or something like that out in the West or New Mexico. We were playing with a lot of different ideas. But no, I don’t know if Clubber Lang will come back.”
In an interview with Uproxx, Caple Jr says Lang – who Sylvester Stallone also considered bringing back in “Rocky Balboa” – would be an interesting character to bring back though.
“He’s an interesting character. And just to see where he’d be at now, where they try make him grounded and seeing where Mr. T is at. Again, nostalgia and just finding a way to bring back characters, but in 2018 and 2019 they have a more modern day level and will always be interesting. You know what I mean? I love challenges like that. Trying to make Drago human. How to make Clubber Lang human. Like, where is he at today? Those are the interesting routes to go in developing characters. That’s my favorite part of character development.”
And just because he got his shot at reprising Drago in “Creed 2”, it doesn’t mean Lundgren won’t get his chance to reprise the character for the next film.
Speaking to Cinema Blend, the actor – who gives the best performance of his career in the new film – says he’d happily return to reprise the Russian if asked – but he does have a request.
“Like I’ve said before, perhaps fewer lines in Russian please, because that almost killed me. Shooting at night, one two page scene in Russian, it’s like ‘I’m from Sweden.’ … Apart from that, I’d love to work with this guy (Florian Munteanu, who played Victor Drago) again. And I would obviously love to work with Stallone again. He’s a good friend of mine, and mentor, and a genius in many ways. And I think it’d be fun working together again.”
“Creed 2” is now showing in the U.S, it commences Thursday in Australia.
