Rocky Balboa and Adonis Creed return to the big screen just in time for Thanksgiving in “Creed II.” The film is a direct sequel to the 2015 movie “Creed” and acts as the eighth instalment of the “Rocky” series. It stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone who are reprising their roles as Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa respectively. They are joined by Tessa Thompson, Dolph Lundgren, Florian Munteanu, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Andre Ward and Phylicia Rashad. Ryan Coogler, the writer and director of the first “Creed,” is the executive producer for the film.

The film follows Adonis Creed, the son of the deceased heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed, as he trains and prepares to try and defeat Viktor Drago. Viktor’s father, Ivan Drago, was a U.S.S.R. champion boxer who secretly used steroids and advanced training to gain worldwide interest in his brute strength. He killed Apollo Creed in an exhibition boxing match and was later defeated by Rocky. Viktor has been trained to follow in his father’s footsteps, and Ivan sees his son as a way to reclaim his honor. Adonis, meanwhile, sees defeating Viktor as a way to avenge his dead father. Adonis’ choice to face down Viktor, however, creates tension between himself, his family and his mentor, Rocky.

Several of the actors have spoken about the making of the film, and Michael B. Jordan commented about how excited he was with the opportunity to continue “building on the characters” established in the first “Creed.” Jordan likened the first “Creed” to “an origin story” for Adonis Creed that dealt with “a fight within himself.” The second “Creed” was a “more layered film,” and bringing back “that animosity” between Rocky and Ivan Drago only added to the intensity of the film, Jordon said.

“Creed II” will be released on Wednesday, November 21, 2018. The official Facebook page has a number of stills from the film as well as the two trailers. Check them out today, and then head over to see “Creed II” this week at a theater near you.