Dolph Lundgren is hitting the gym to train as he gets in shape to reprise Ivan Drago in the upcoming Creed 2. The actor first portrayed the Russian boxer in 1985’s Rocky IV, becoming one of the franchise’s most notable “villains” due to his brute strength and quotable lines, which included the chilling “I must break you.” While the Rocky films have continued in the three decades since with two direct sequels and the first Creed installment, the character of Drago hasn’t been heard from since he was defeated by the Italian Stallion in their fateful match. That is set to change in the near future, however, with Creed 2 coming through the pipeline.
Earlier this summer, Sylvester Stallone revealed he was working on the screenplay with the hopes of filming in 2018. He also confirmed that Drago would be returning in the sequel, giving the drama a personal layer. Viewers may recall that Apollo Creed, father of Creed‘s protagonist Adonis, was killed during a fight against the Soviet machine. It remains to be seen if Donny will get a revenge shot at Drago, but Lundgren is certainly preparing for such a bout, if his latest social media activity is any indication.
As Creed 2 makes its way through development, many will be intrigued to see how Drago fits into the narrative. Lundgren is only a few months away from his 60th birthday, meaning it could be a stretch to see him go toe-to-toe with the 30-year old Michael B. Jordan, but it’s still possible. As seen in the clips, Lundgren remains in peak physical condition and he hasn’t shied away from demanding roles in recent years. Not only was he part of Stallone’s Expendables crew, he’ll play King Nerus in James Wan’s Aquaman. Plus, Rocky Balboa depicted an elder Italian Stallion performing admirably in the ring against Mason “The Line” Dixon, so the franchise has pulled this angle off before.
Regardless of whether or not Drago puts on the gloves again, his inclusion in Creed 2 is exciting. While Rocky eventually befriended Apollo (his rival in the first two movies), things were always acrimonious between Balboa and Drago. Their interactions in the followup should be laced with tension, considering their pasts. After the first Creed took the Rocky series back to its roots with a captivating story, hopefully the sequel can follow suit and keep the property off the ropes for at least a couple more years.
We’ll keep you updated on Creed 2 as more information becomes available.
No comments:
Post a Comment