Among all the adversaries Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) faces in the “Rocky” series, Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) stands out as his most formidable rival. This Soviet powerhouse confronts the Italian Stallion, inflicting a tragic blow by killing his friend and mentor, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), in an exhibition match. Despite being defeated, Drago reappears in “Creed II,” coaching his son Viktor (Florian Munteanu) against Apollo’s son and Rocky’s protégé, Adonis (Michael B. Jordan). While Viktor fails to triumph over Adonis, seemingly concluding the Drago family saga, recent revelations suggest otherwise.
According to Lundgren, a spin-off centered around the Dragos is in the works, offering a captivating storyline. In an interview with Screen Rant, he revealed that the script revolves around Ivan and Viktor relocating to the United States. “In ‘Creed II,’ we’re in the Ukraine, in the beginning, we’re in Kyiv. That’s where the movie opens, even though it’s not really mentioned too much. But in the version of the script that I read, it starts with a Russian invasion,” he explained. Delays in production are attributed to the success of “Creed III,” with Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer currently prioritizing “Creed IV,” momentarily placing the Drago spin-off on hold.
The potential for a standalone spotlight on the Dragos is high, given the narrative richness such a project could offer.
Released during the Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, “Rocky IV” portrays Ivan Drago as a formidable, almost robotic force solely driven by the desire for victory and honor for the USSR. “Creed II” reveals that his defeat against Rocky led to shame in his homeland, resulting in a life of poverty for him and Viktor in Ukraine. With Viktor rising in the boxing world, Ivan seizes the opportunity to redeem himself by training his son to defeat Rocky’s student, Adonis.
However, this plan also fails, forcing Ivan to call off Viktor’s fight with Adonis. If the Drago series materializes, it holds the potential to explore various aspects of their lives. It could delve into Ivan’s response to being abandoned by his country, the expectations placed on Viktor, and the dynamics of their father-son relationship after Viktor’s loss to Adonis. The series could humanize both characters, offering insights into their emotional struggles and the efforts they make to heal over time.
