‘Fruitvale’ director and star may reunite for ‘Rocky’ spin-off ‘Creed’

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Actor Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler are hot commodities in Hollywood right now due to critically-acclaimed Oscar Grant biopic Fruitvale Station.

And as the Oscar contender expands to theaters around the country, rumor has it the duo may reunite for a movie with real blockbuster potential.

Coogler is in negotiations to direct Jordan in Creed, a spin-off of the wildly successful Rocky franchise, according to Deadline.com.

Jordan would play the grandson of legendary Rocky Balboa opponent and friend Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers in the original Rocky and three sequels).

Sylvester Stallone, who created the Creed character and wrote all of the original Rocky films, may also come on board to reprise his most memorable role, this time as a trainer and mentor to Jordan’s character.

The film will reportedly be produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, who also produced the original Rocky film, along with Stallone and Kevin King.

According to Deadline, the new Creed character has been “raised in an upper-crust home thanks to the ring riches earned by his grandfather… doesn’t have to box and his family doesn’t want him to. Yet, he has the natural instinct and gifts and potential that made his grandfather the heavyweight champion until Rocky Balboa took his crown in 1979′s Rocky II. Creed’s grandson needs a mentor and turns to Balboa, who is out of boxing completely and not eager to return.”

Stallone reportedly “loved” for the concept, pitched by Coogler, and was enthusiastic enough about the concept to resurrect his signature role for the first time since his hit swan song Rocky Balboa in 2006.

The six previous Rocky films have grossed over half a billion dollars domestically.