The following contains spoilers for Creed III, now playing in theaters.
The Creed trilogy of films has built on the legacy of the Rocky franchise while still charting its own path forward. While the previous two films were directly connected to that cinematic history, the latest film is far more focused on its central character and the people caught in his orbit. But even if Rocky characters don't appear as much in Creed III, a thematic connection between the film's antagonist and the previous films lends it some added depth.
Creed III's Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) -- aka Dame -- builds upon the legacy of the Rocky franchise while still feeling like a unique and singular rival to Adonis (Michael B. Jordan). In some ways, he specifically feels like a modern take on Rocky III's Clubber Lang. But in one of the film's deft little character tricks, Dame also shares a lot in common with Rocky Balboa himself -- making Adonis' eventual victory and growth all the more impactful.
Creed III's Dame's Similarities to Clubber Lang, Explained
Dame is Creed III's primary antagonist, who was a friend to Adonis when they were both growing up in Los Angeles. However, while Creed escaped custody in their youth by fleeing a brawl he'd started and went on to become the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Dame was arrested and ultimately spent almost two decades in prison. Upon his release, Dame initially appears to be a surprisingly soft-spoken but dangerous boxer, playing on a retired Adonis' guilt over their past to earn a shot at the title -- one that he earns with some well-targeted brutal shots against Adonis' protégé Felix (Jose Benavidez). After that, Dame becomes openly dismissive and confrontational with Adonis, mocking him and ultimately meeting him in the ring. It's only then -- after Adonis wins a hard-fought victory over Dame -- that the two can speak candidly and plainly about their past and their regrets.
On the surface, Dame shares several similarities with Clubber Lang, one of the antagonists of Rocky III. On top of being the third major boxing rival for the respective series' central character, Clubber was a fierce and far more dangerous boxer than Rocky had encountered. Dame's solitary training in his small room ahead of his first title fight is reminiscent of Clubber's determined training in the film, while both characters use their more verbose sides to call out and enrage their opponents. Even their final fights with the hero take similar cues, with Clubber and Dame both surprised by the sudden burst of energy from Rocky and Creed, respectively, leading them to fight with harsher power for the rest of the match. But Dame also shares a lot in common with another notable boxer from the Rocky franchise -- Rocky himself.
How Dame Is a Dark Reflection of Rocky Balboa
In the first Rocky, Rocky Balboa is far from the world-famous fighter he'd eventually become. Instead, he starts the film working as a low-level criminal enforcer, who many believe is just too old to really have any shot at major victory. This is similar to the criticism levied against Dame early in Creed III, with many in the boxing world considering him far too seasoned to be fighting at the level he is. Dame deflects this idea by specifically citing Rocky's unlikely rise to fame, comparing his potential fight with Felix to when Rocky was plucked from obscurity to face off with Apollo. Both are described as "hungry" for the win, with Dame's rage in the ring feeling reminiscent of the passion Rocky would put behind his own punches. Dame's quieter, more self-reflective side -- teased out in small moments in the film -- could even be seen as a parallel to the quiet bouts of self-doubt and depression that creep into Rocky's life throughout the franchise.
It's an interesting concept, as it adds additional layers to Dame and keeps him from simply being a retread of Clubber or a one-dimensional rival for Adonis to go up against. Instead, the little ways Dame is experiencing his own version of Rocky's growth gives Majors more to latch onto and discover in the film. It's also a perfect way to reinforce the film's subtle attempts to move away from Rocky himself, who doesn't appear in Creed III in any real way outside of occasional mentions -- often in comparison to Dame. Instead, Adonis needs to come to terms with his past and himself on his own, eventually opening up to Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and learning to let go. By making Dame a dark reflection of Rocky, this self-growth without Rocky's help becomes even more pronounced.
To get to know Dame, Creed III is now in theaters.