The first Creed films will share some key elements with their Rocky predecessors, as both franchises are about underdog boxers who rise to the challenge when faced with an exciting new foe. However, the known plot of Creed III makes the film seem almost like a remake of Rocky III - but that's not a bad thing.
Much like Creed III could be a significant chunk of the film's plot, making it an emotional story for both Adonis and the audience. While he is at his highest point career-wise, emotionally Creed III will see Adonis Creed at his lowest - directly paralleling Rocky's arc in Rocky III.
Why Creed 3 Has Major Parallels With Rocky III
While Creed III may not exactly be charting new territory in the Rocky franchise, its major parallels are fairly understandable. Creed and Creed films have acted as an homage to the original films, updating the classic Rocky movie stories by putting a new spin on each one. Creed III is coming out over 40 years after Rocky III, meaning that much of the audience wasn't around when the latter came out. While Adonis and Rocky may be going through similar tribulations, the two characters are incredibly different, meaning that the Creed series is able to tell these familiar stories from a different perspective.
What Will Make Creed 3 Still Feel Different From Rocky III
While Creed III may seem like it's copying Rocky III on its face, several other elements actually make the film incredibly different. Unlike Clubber Lang in Rocky III, Creed III's Damian Anderson has a personal connection to Adonis, adding an emotional layer to the story that wasn't there in Rocky III. Creed III could delve even further into Adonis' backstory, showing more of his childhood before the events of the first Creed. There are also several big Rocky III story beats that most likely won't appear in the film, such as Rocky finding a new trainer in Apollo Creed.
Out of all the Rocky films, Rocky III is probably the one that needs another shot. Rocky III has been less well-received than most of the franchise's other films, and Creed III may be a way to redeem the original storyline. While there may be some parallels, Creed III is different enough to stand on its own, and it will improve on the elements it does borrow from Rocky III.
