Mayor of Philadelphia Proclaims November 25 Creed Day

Standing atop the Philadelphia Art Museum’s iconic steps, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter proclaimed Wednesday, November 25th Creed Day in honor of the upcoming film—opening that same day—which explores the next chapter in the “Rocky” saga. Joining Mayor Nutter to receive the official proclamation were Sylvester Stallone himself and fellow Creed stars Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson, and the film’s writer/director, Ryan Coogler, and producer Irwin Winkler.

The film, which brings Rocky Balboa face-to-face with the son of his one-time rival and best friend, Apollo Creed, was shot in and around the City of Brotherly Love. The museum steps, and the statue of Rocky that stands at the bottom of them, can, in fact, be seen in Creed.

Mayor Nutter also gifted the team from Creed with individually inscribed miniature Liberty Bells to mark the occasion; they, in turn, presented the mayor with a framed rendering of the mural, created as a special tribute to the city, that was installed this morning at the Front Street Gym in North Philly, a location that features prominently in the new film.

“I was just thinking the other day that everything I have leads directly to the genesis of ‘Rocky,’ but what’s amazing is this character and these stories have stayed around without any special effects, without any car chases, without blowing anything up, which is what I usually do,” said Stallone during today’s press conference. “That’s why I think it’s so phenomenal, because the generation that wasn’t around when we did the third one –forget the first one- that they would embrace this and take it to a new level. So yeah, I’m very proud and stunned that here we are on the seventh one, but you’re actually in ‘Creed 1.’ So Rocky’s story is done, this is now the beginning, hopefully, of a whole new series. It just continues to go on.”

“It’s an honor to be accepted into this legendary world that’s been around for forty years, longer than I’ve been alive,” Jordan laughed. “To be trusted with these characters that Sly built his career on it’s an honor. The team that we have, our cast, and our fearless leader Ryan, I never felt more safe and willing to take risks and chances and experiment. Sly did the biggest thing which was to take that pressure off of me and not worry about living up to what the Rocky’s were. Just to be myself and do what we’re doing.”

Following the presentations, former football star Vince Papale—who, much like Rocky, went from underdog to hometown hero to sports superstar when he became a walk-on Philadelphia Eagle—opened the floor for questions from the press in attendance.

From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema comes award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s Creed. The film reunites Coogler with his Fruitvale Station star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed, and explores a new chapter in the “Rocky” story, starring Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role.

Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa.

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky (Stallone) down and asks him to be his trainer. Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend. Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring.

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

Creed also stars Tessa Thompson (Selma, Dear White People); Phylicia Rashad (Lifetime’s “Steel Magnolias”); and English pro boxer and former three-time ABA Heavyweight Champion Anthony Bellew.

Ryan Coogler directed from a screenplay he wrote with Aaron Covington, based on a story by Coogler. The film is being produced by Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King-Templeton and Sylvester Stallone, with Nicolas Stern executive producing.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures present, in association with New Line Cinema, a Chartoff Winkler Production, Creed. The film opens nationwide on Wednesday, November 25, 2015, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, with select international territories as well as all television distribution being handled by MGM.

Creed has been rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality.