“Guys that I have real admiration for”: Basketball Legend Kobe Bryant, Marvel Star Jamie Foxx Inspired Michael B. Jordan’s $273M Movie

michael b jordan, kobe bryant and jamie foxx
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Michael B. Jordan is one of the most versatile and gifted actors of his generation. Popular for his characters in the films like Black Panther and Creed, Jordan has become a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. He made his comeback to the big screen with the threequel to the sports drama Creed, which follows Adonis Creed going against his best friend Damian Anderson in the boxing ring.

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Creed III (2023)
Creed III (2023)

The film also gives a look at Adonis Creed’s family life after he retires from boxing to spend some time with his wife and his daughter Amara. Jordan shared during an interview that he got the inspiration for Creed and Amara’s relationship from the boxing legend Kobe Bryant and actor Jamie Foxx.

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How Kobe Bryant And Jamie Foxx Inspired Michael B. Jordan For Creed III?

Adonis Creed’s daughter Amara was first introduced in the 2018 film Creed II. The threequel in the film series features a seven-year time jump, giving Amara a much more significant role in the franchise. The relationship between father and daughter is explored throughout the film, and Amara also starts growing interest in boxing.

A still from the Creed franchise
A still from the Creed franchise

During an interview with IndieWire, Michael B. Jordan revealed what inspired the dynamic between the two characters. He shared that during the Just Mercy tour, he witnessed Jamie Foxx and Kobe Bryant’s relationship with their daughter when the latter hosted a screening. He explained,

“Jamie Foxx has a strong relationship with his daughter, who was into basketball. She was playing basketball. And Kobe’s sitting there talking about Gianna and basketball and the Mamba Academy and everything.”

Michael B. Jordan with Kobe Bryant and Jamie Foxx
Michael B. Jordan with Kobe Bryant and Jamie Foxx

Seeing people he really admired, the Chronicle actor was inspired to have something similar in his movie. He said, “I’m looking at these guys that I have real admiration for and hearing them talk about their daughters.” Jordan said that he wanted to honor such relationships on-screen and wanted to show what it means to be a girl dad.

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Amara Could Take the Lead in the Creed Franchise

Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III establishes Amara as a fighter, just like her father. She stands up for herself early in the film as she punches a school bully. As the story progresses, her interest in boxing also grows, and she starts watching her father’s fights over the years. Seeing her interest in fighting, Adonis also shows her some more fighting techniques.

Adonis Creed with his daughter, Amara
Adonis Creed with his daughter, Amara

Considering her growing interest in boxing, many believe that Amara could take the lead in future Creed movies. The Kin actor is reportedly working with the studio to expand the franchise, including one with Amara in the lead.

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According to Deadline, there are talks of “an anime series connected to the Rocky spinoff IP,” a live-action TV series, and a potential project following Adonis Creed’s daughter, Amara Creed. Jordan has also shared that he is excited to work on the Creed universe.

The Creed franchise is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Read More: “Still kind of wrapping up”: Michael B. Jordan Won’t Do Creed 4, Wants To Focus on Movie He Snatched from Tom Cruise

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Source: IndieWire

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Written by Laxmi Rajput

Articles Published: 2151

Laxmi Rajput is a writer at Fandomwire. She finished her Post Graduation in Broadcast Journalism and worked as a Business News writer for a year. But her interest in entertainment and pop culture compelled her to find a way towards Entertainment Journalism. She has worked across various fields and has 2 years of experience in content writing. She likes reading, music, movies, and traveling. She aspires to become a fiction writer in the future.