Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
This story originally ran in 2018.
We are republishing it in honor ofVultures Sequels Week.
Suffice it to saySteven Caple Jr.felt somewhat daunted by the enormity of the task before him.
But Coogler hadrecused himselffrom directing theCreedsequel.
Executives at the films distributor MGM asked: Did Caple want the job?
He seriously thought about passing before reconsidering the wider cultural implications of his attachment.
You and Ryan Coogler went to film school together a connection that certainly helped you land this job.
I got picked up to write theEmmett Till mini-series.
I directed a docu-series for Netflix on this guy namedLogic, its calledRapture, also a few TV spots.
But all that was just to keep developing my craft.
When I got the call from the studio, they said they had just seen the feature film.
Then Ryan Coogler obviously kind of gave the head nod to do the project.
What was your meeting like with the studio executives?
Really?I was uncomfortable with it.
One, I had just spoken to Ryan a few days before.
I was doingGrown-ishand he was doingBlack Panther.
I saw a few scenes he was editing.
We were just talking about sports, just hanging out.
Then three days later, I get the phone call, and Im like, Wait, what?
I was just with Ryan he never mentioned anything about a feature!
I called Ryan immediately, and Im like, Hey man, whats going on?
Mike doesnt want another year to pass.
But hes also looking for a director who can elevate the script and keep our voices alive.
I was excited but at the same time Im like, Man, this is a franchise thatsgood.
I dont want to hurt it.
I dont want to risk it due to the short time window we had to shoot.
And I dont know whether or not theyre gonna allow me to be me.
I really want my voice to come off.
He didnt want me to makeCreedall over again.
He said, You definitely have to doyouin order forusto win.
That was the same attitude Sly had.
That made me feel comfortable.
Before Thanksgiving last year, I had these meetings on a Tuesday and a Wednesday.
Then the city shut down.
Your concern was totally valid.
He went for like a sci-fi, very hard core genre-esque film.
I tried to pull fromRocky IV, some of the nostalgia.
But for me, its all about stories.
For this film, I saw opportunity to do the same thing.
I dug into the drama of each character.
I kinda elevate the drama in a sense to where they had a layered storyline thats really dimensional.
I was looking for a spot where hey, what hasnt been done before?
Michael B. Jordan is also an executive producer on this.
What did he articulate to you about his ambitions for the sequel?
And how did you help develop the script?He had a lot of input on it.
He was working with Sly on the script and they really went this revenge route.
I was concerned because that didnt make sense to me.
Rocky got the revenge inRocky IV, so it cant be a revenge story.
I was like, Mike, whats going on in your life?
I went out to meet his mom and dad.
Were talking about his career.
Now [Mikes] name is being brought up in those categories.
This whole thing was like, this ishis time.
He still feels like theres always more to explore.
As a person, he always feels like theres another level.
What does that mean?
When its your time and you feel like you still not pulling your chance.
That felt like it tied in to the script.
It felt like I could take the character there.
You feel tested when Drago appears.
It became something beyond just a revenge story something more personal to Mike with the legacy aspect to it.
That wasnt in their original draft.
Just trying to get all the story into one film.
I had a narrow window to try things.
With that kind of schedule you cant really make too many mistakes.
There were only so many things that I could only prep for.
I didnt have much time for preparation, so I had to go off a lot of instinct.
It can be scary at times.
I thank Sly and Mike and all these guys for believing in me.
That was pretty intense.
Creed obviously transformed Ryans career.
AndCreed IIhas the potential to do the same for you.
Youre not looking down because you know youre going to get exhausted and tired.
You thought youve done ten miles and youve only done half a mile.
It was one of those scenarios where I just didnt look down.
Now Im having the opportunity to look up.
I just finished the film two weeks ago.
Literally now being here, and people are now seeing it?
Its a little nerve-wracking.
Im just trying to take in the moment and see how people respond.
Me and Coogler were talking just before you called.
Take time with your family.
It takes a toll and youre going to have to stop life for a little bit.
He was just saying Enjoy this moment.
That kind of advice is always helpful.
Throughout most of Hollywood history, that certainly wasnt the case.
They bring someone on like myself.
Then MGM allows me to hire another writer, and hes black.
I didnt see much of that growing up.
We have to be here for each other.
To show people that our stories are universal and to get to the masses.
Im very proud of that.
I love the fact that we have these comraderies.
That played a part in me taking the project.
Theyve taken over Hollywood.
I was like, Why cant we have that same thing?
