Tessa Thompson Interview: Creed 3

In Creed III, Adonis Creed is thriving as an accomplished boxer, loving husband, and father. But when an old friend arrives in town, his peaceful life is turned upside down. Damian “Dame” Anderson, a former boxing prodigy and Adonis’ childhood friend, looks him up after he’s released from prison. Dame wants a shot in the ring, hoping to regain the years he lost.

When things go wrong, old resentments and secrets come to the surface, causing trouble for Adonis both professionally and personally. While Dame has nothing to lose, Adonis has everything — and when they face off in the ring, it is more personal than ever before. Creed III is Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut, and he is joined by a star-studded cast that includes Tessa Thompson and Jonathan Majors.

Thompson spoke with Screen Rant about playing Bianca in Creed III. She discussed how Adonis and Bianca’s marriage has changed over time, hinting at the conflict that arises from their career changes in Creed III. Thompson also praised Michael B. Jordan’s directing and explained how he has been preparing for this his entire life.

Tessa Thompson on Creed III

Screen Rant: Tessa, amazing job on this film! I love the character of Bianca. Bianca and Adonis have taken a step back from some of their professional goals. How has that changed their marriage together and individually?

Tessa Thompson: I think it’s changed their marriage quite a bit, to be honest. Because for Adonis specifically, I think boxing was not just a passion; it was also an outlet in terms of being able to express feelings or frustrations. And so without that, Bianca feels like, “You need to get another one, sir. Because there’s a lot inside you that you don’t have a way to deal with, and you need to find one.” And I think for Bianca, she’s so happy; she owns a record label, and it’s doing really well. She is producing artists. She is highly decorated as a producer.

But there is something lost with not performing in the same way. There’s some part of her that also is missing its outlet. And that’s the thing that I find so interesting about this couple is we’re always trying to find something that is parallel. That there’s always symmetry in their struggle, which I think also complicates the relationship. Because in a partnership, when two people are going through some stuff, you end up sometimes taking it out on the other. But that’s what I think is so cool about them. That’s what I think is so aspirational. They can work through all of those corners and come back out the other side better, both as individuals and also as a couple.

Speaking of complicated relationships, Damian (played by Jonathan Majors) comes into the picture. He’s somebody from Adonis’s past, and he sees himself a little bit in Bianca. Can you talk about how Bianca views Damian and how he views her?

Tessa Thompson: I love that question! I really love that question because, actually, it’s something that we talked about. In some ways, because of Bianca’s upbringing, and where she grew up in Philly, and her life, we had this idea that Bianca and Adonis had this instant understanding of each other. Obviously, Donnie and Dame grew up together for a spell, but then Adonis’ life changed, and he got taken in with Mary Anne, and he lived a life very separate.

Obviously, Dame grew up in the carceral system. Bianca is familiar with that. Men in her life that she loved were in jail. She knows a man like Dame in a way. And so there is an instant acknowledgment between them. And also, I think we were so interested in a character like Dane, who, because of his street smarts because of where he comes from, he knows people immediately. And he knows how to read it and get under people’s skin. And knows how to pull the trigger and push some buttons. I loved that they kind of have each other’s number in a way.

Michael B. Jordan directs this film for the first time, and he’s amazing. Can you talk to me about working with him as a director, and what his directing style contributed to Creed III?

Tessa Thompson: The thing that I feel really proud of is that he made a process really good for everybody. And then he didn’t just make a good film; he made the process of making the film a good one, but also that he was able to bring his style. He took some big swings stylistically, especially in the language, the sort of boxing language and vernacular of that. And I think that’s a very confident, steadfast thing to do for your first time around when you come into a franchise. That’s always the thing, especially the third: how does the director put their own spin on it? And I think he was really able to do that.

I feel like the thing that sometimes gets underestimated about actors, if I’m honest, is that when you work a lot, you learn a lot about the filmmaking process. And you are, in a way, an active part of the filmmaking process and a filmmaker yourself. And Mike has been working since he was nine years old. So while this is his directorial debut, he’s worked for so long that I think it’s a very amazing and natural extension of the work that he’s been doing for so long.

About Creed III

Adonis Creed is thriving in the boxing world and with his family. But his childhood friend and one-time boxing prodigy Damian “Dame” Anderson reappears in his life after being released from prison wanting a chance in the ring. The fight between these two quickly becomes personal as Damien has nothing to lose while Adonis has everything.

Check out our other Creed III interviews here:

• Michael B. Jordan
• Jonathan Majors