Rocky Balboa is back, but this time the big lug isn’t stepping into the ring he’s taking on training duties to prep a young protégée for the championship. 

The son of Rocky’s best friend and two-time opponent Apollo Creed seeks out the former champ to teach him a few moves. Initially reluctant, Rocky eventually agrees and before you can say sports training montage, the due embark on a personal journey to get Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) fighting fit.

We all thought that Rocky Balboa was a fitting bookend to the franchise, a surprisingly affecting helping of the old fashioned also reignited Stallone’s flagging career. Improving on Rocky Balboa as a farewell to the character will be difficult, and I can’t help but feel a spin-off might be a step too far. That said, there is a part of me that is kind of excited to see Rocky transition into the role of Michael “Mickey” Goldmill. They tried this approach with Rocky 5, but we don’t like to talk about that movie anymore.

Creed arrives in cinemas this November.

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?