Jonathan Majors could be Michael B. Jordan's 'Creed III' opponent

We know for sure that Creed III will be Michael B. Jordan's directorial debut.

We don't know for sure whom Adonis Creed's (Jordan) opponent will be in the ring, but we may be getting closer to an answer.

"MGM and first-time director Michael B. Jordan have set their sights on Lovecraft Country star Jonathan Majors to be his adversary in the ring for Creed III, sources said," according to Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr. "Negotiations are underway for Majors to star in the film as Adonis Creed’s ring nemesis."

Fleming added: "The deal isn't quite done yet and they are working through the logistics of Majors’ busy dance card. Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad return for the third installment of the Rocky franchise spinoff, but Sylvester Stallone decided not to come back this time. The script is written by Zach Baylin and Keenan Coogler."

Creed debuted in 2015, and the sequel followed in 2018. Ryan Coogler directed and co-wrote the first installment, in part propelling him into the Black Panther stratosphere, but he decided not to return for Creed II. Steven Caple Jr. took over the director's chair, and now it's Jordan's turn.

"I'm excited," Jordan told Ellen DeGeneres last month. "I'm not really nervous about it. It's a character that I know. It's a world that I know. It's the first time I'm playing a character three times. And it's a story—I've been daydreaming about it for such a long time, since the first Creed, seeing what's been in my head on the page now and actually bringing everything together, it's, like, a pretty cool feeling."

Majors, 31, has enjoyed a steady rise since starring in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods (2020). He then co-led HBO's Lovecraft Country with Jurnee Smollett last year. Created by Misha Green, the series counts J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele among its executive producers.