Florian Munteanu to Get in the Ring With Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed 2’

Warner Bros.

Romanian boxer Florian Munteanu has signed on to play Michael B. Jordan’s opponent in “Creed 2,” TheWrap has learned.

He is set to play the son of Rocky nemesis Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren).

“Creed 2” will continue to follow Adonis Creed (Jordan) both inside and outside of the ring as he deals with his newfound fame, issues with his family, and his continuing quest to become a champion. Sylvester Stallone will also reprise his role as Rocky Balboa.

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Stallone also confirmed the casting in an Instagram post congratulating Munteanu.

“Congratulations to Florian ” Big Nasty” Munteanu for getting the part as IVAN DRAGOS son! 27 years old , 6 feet four, 245 pounds of talent,” he wrote.

Congratulations to Florian ” Big Nasty” Munteanu for getting the part as IVAN DRAGOS son! 27 years old , 6 feet four, 245 pounds of talent.#mgm #creed #creed2

A post shared by Sly Stallone (@officialslystallone) on Jan 15, 2018 at 5:59pm PST

The sequel to the 2015 “Rocky” spinoff, listed as “Creed II” on IMDb, will star Jordan as Adonis Creed (son of Carl Weathers’ Apollo Creed from the original films), Stallone as Rocky Balboa, and Lundgren as Drago. The MGM/WB film is set for release on Nov. 21, 2018.

Steven Caple Jr. will direct “Creed 2,” which is based on a script by Stallone and “Luke Cage’ showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker.

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“Creed” was directed by Ryan Coogler, and was written by Coogler and Aaron Covington. Stallone earned an Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe for reprising his role as Rocky Balboa in the film.

The Tracking Board first reported the news of the casting.

Umberto Gonzalez contributed to this story.

All 7 Rocky Movies Ranked, From the Original to 'Creed' (Photos)

1. Rocky (1976) Don’t hate the movie that beat "Taxi Driver" for the Best Picture Oscar. It’s still a knockout. Roger Ebert compared writer/star Stallone to Brando. Muhammad Ali compared him to Jesus and Tarzan. Billy Wilder sent him a typewriter. Chaplin compared “Rocky" to his "Little Tramp," and invited him to visit. So did Elvis. John Wayne said, “Welcome to Hollywood.”
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2. Creed (2015) This time, Stallone plays the trainer, making longshot contender Michael B. Jordan chase chickens and shadowbox, just as his trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith) did to him. Sadly, he does not say, “You’re gonna eat lightning and crap thunder,” but lots of the Rocky scenes you like are back in fresher form. Plus, Jordan and cowriter/director Ryan Coogler prove "Fruitvale Station" was no fluke. I’m not saying Stallone’s an Oscar contender, but pundits like Jenelle Riley are.
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3. Rocky II (1979) Draggy, but that last half hour is killer. When Muhammad Ali saw Carl Weathers' trash-talking Apollo Creed, he said, "That's me, all right."
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4. Rocky Balboa (2006) Nobody was asking for a “Rocky" reboot, but Stallone entertainingly gets back to the sensitive side he showed in the first, quasi-neorealist "Rocky." Surprisingly poignant, and it proves Marilyn Monroe’s point about aging: "Gravity gets us all in the end." After this, he promised no more “Rocky" sequels. "What am I gonna fight, arthritis? A clogged artery?" The film also contains what Stallone wants on his tombstone: "It ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."
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5. Rocky III (1982) The original Rocky teabag had one last dip in it, largely thanks to rising star Mr. T, who first uttered "I pity the fool" as Rocky’s daunting opponent. Survivor, challenged to top the fight-scene temp music (“Another One Bites the Dust”), wrote “Eye of the Tiger” in under four days — same time it took Stallone to write the first draft of Rocky -- and grabbed the Grammy.
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6. Rocky IV (1985) It’s hard to say what’s the scariest here, Stallone’s 'roid-raging Rooskie rival Dolph Lundgren, his squeeze Brigitte Nielsen, Burt Young's robot (which really worked) or the movie’s right-wing mania. Also notable is how the film is the culmination in the series' ever-more rapid editing, given the shortened average length of each shot: "Rocky" (8.25 seconds ASL), "Rocky II" (5.6), "Rocky III" (3.7), "Rocky IV" (2.16).
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7. Rocky V (1990) In this one, poor Rocky finds Dolph Lundgren gave him brain damage. The film is a "Rocky” zombie staggering through the motions. Repeat viewings could short your brain’s connoisseurship circuits.
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