Trivia / Creed III

• Accidentally-Correct Writing: At least one viewer questioned how Black and Nerdy Donnie could have a Naruto poster on his wall in 2002 when the anime didn't debut in the US until 2005. This actually isn't completely out of the realm of possibility: the Naruto manga in fact began Japanese publication in 1999, and an English scanlation became available shortly after; it then became a launch title for the English version of Shonen Jump in January 2003. Donnie would just have needed to be extra Black and Nerdy to have gotten merch ahead of the official English launch, and his wealthy adoptive mother may have helped in that regard.
• Actor-Inspired Element:
  • According to Jonathan Majors, Damian's surname, Anderson, is taken from his own grandfather.
  • Donnie's room in 2002 is littered with various pieces of anime memorabilia, which Michael B. Jordan confirmed to have drawn from his own experiences as a fan of the medium growing up.
• Creative Differences: The reason Stallone chose not to reprise his role is because he didn’t like the darker tone the story was going for, as well as his feud with longtime producer Irwin Wrinkler.
• Directed by Cast Member: In continuing the tradition that Sylvester Stallone started with Rocky II, Michael B. Jordan has officially inherited the role as director of the series he's staring in.
• Disabled Character, Disabled Actor: Mila Davis-Kent, the actress for Amara Creed, is deaf herself in real life.
• Inspiration for the Work: In an interview with IGN's Logan Plant, Michael B. Jordan referred to various anime to make this film's fights feel distinct from the previous entries. He specifically mentioned boxing anime like Hajime no Ippo and Megalo Box, along with popular shonen Naruto and My Hero Academia. A particular punch from Dragon Ball Z is teased between his Creed and Jonathan Majors' Damian's match, and Jordan points to a Cross Counter performed between Naruto and Sasuke in Shippuden as a reference for a similar moment in the film.
• Meaningful Release Date: The third film in the Creed series is released on the third day of the third month (March) in the third year of the third decade of the third millennium of the Common Era.
• Missing Trailer Scene: The first trailer features a scene of Adonis, Bianca and Amara sat in the visiting room of a juvenile center, seemingly the same one Adonis himself was in at the start of the first film, while the children present chant the Creed name. No such visit occurs in the finished film.
• Reality Subtext: While announcing his retirement from boxing, Donnie says that he's had his time in the sun, and it's time to pass the torch to the next generation. This was the first film in the Rocky franchise not to feature Sylvester Stallone, while also being the directorial debut for Michael B. Jordan.
• Role Reprise: Tony Bellew returns as Ricky Conlan seven years after the first film.
• Refitted for Sequel: The scene in the locker room after the final fight where Adonis and Damian reconcile is directly inspired by a deleted scene from Creed II, where Adonis speaks to Viktor after their second fight.
• Underage Casting: Damian is older than Adonis and served as a big brother figure in their youth. In real life, Jonathan Majors is two years younger than Michael B. Jordan.

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