20 Things You May Have Missed In Creed
2. Real Life Hurdles Shaped The Movie's Emotional Core
Between Ryan Coogler's intimate and formative experience with the Rocky movies as well as Sylvester Stallone's own journey with the franchise, it comes as no surprise that the development of Creed was far more poignant than expected of a typical legacy sequel.
Stallone was very reluctant to return to the world he shaped for a number of reasons. In addition to the previously mentioned reasons, he understandably felt that 2006's Rocky Balboa was the perfect coda for the sportsman, but Coogler's persistence and idea for the story's emotional hook eventually won him over.
The film's focus on fathers and sons took on tragic meaning after Sly's son, Sage, passed on during pre-production. Fortunately, reprising the role and focusing on its familial dynamic helped Stallone cope with the painful loss.