The search for a director for the sequel to the acclaimed 2015 drama Creed has ended with Sylvester Stallone.

RELATED: Stallone Teases Creed 2's Connection to Rocky IV

The actor, who produced and co-starred in the Rocky spinoff, announced Monday night that he'll return next year to produce and direct the sequel, starring Michael B. Jordan in the title role. "One more round!" Stallone wrote on Instagram.

Looking forward to directing and Producing The incredibly talented Michael B Jordan in CREED 2 next year ... One more Round ! #creed2 #mgm #fighting #workout #exercise #boxing

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Directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler, the 2015 original served as both a spinoff and sequel to Stallone's Rocky films, but focused on Adonis Johnson Creed (Johnson), the son of the late Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Stallone reprised his role as Rocky Balboa, for which he received an Academy Award nomination and won both a Critics' Choice Award and a Golden Globe Award.

The potential involvement of Coogler in Creed 2 had been up in the air, as he was hired by Marvel Studios to direct and co-write Black Panther, and will presumably return for a sequel. “I know Ryan is probably going to be gone for a couple years,” Stallone conceded in early 2016. “So there will be a quandary on: Do we work with another director and have Ryan produce, or do we wait?"

Clearly the decision was made to go with another director, one intimately familiar with the characters. Stallone wrote and starred in all six Rocky films, receiving two nominations for the 1976 original, and directed Rocky II-IV and 2006's Rocky Balboa.

Creed earned $173.6 million worldwide.