Although Creed IV is probably still a long way away, the film really needs to bring back a missing character from Rocky Balboa in order to fix a major franchise mistake. Despite the Creed movies starring original characters, the films have always been heavily tied into the world of Rocky with each entry in the spin-off series featuring characters from the six original Rocky movies. However, Creed III is still missing one of the most obvious characters from 2006’s Rocky Balboa, and Creed IV really needs to fix this missed franchise opportunity.
While Creed III might be the natural conclusion of Adonis Creed’s story, it is far from the end of the Rocky universe, with all sorts of Creed spin-offs and sequels being in various stages of development. Creed IV is inevitable, and although Rocky Balboa didn’t appear in Creed III, Creed IV needs to reestablish its Rocky ties. With Adonis Creed officially retired after the events of Creed III, future sequels will need a new hook in order to keep fans invested in the story of Adonis Creed. Luckily, 2006’s Rocky Balboa brought back a major character that would be the perfect solution to Creed IV‘s story problems.
Marie Didn’t Come Back In Creed (But Her Return Would’ve Made Perfect Sense)
Marie is a character that is reintroduced as an adult in Rocky Balboa, and although she didn’t come back in Creed, her return would have made perfect sense. Marie was a young child that Rocky first befriended in the original Rocky movie, with the two reuniting in Rocky Balboa. Marie is struggling financially, barely keeping her and her troubled son Steps off of the streets of Philadelphia. Marie and Rocky grow close in Rocky Balboa, with Marie acting as a daughter to Rocky as well as a comforting figure in the wake of Adrian’s death. While she served her narrative purpose in Rocky Balboa, she should have returned in Creed.
Marie not appearing in Creed feels like a huge oversight, as the end of Rocky Balboa means she should have appeared in the film. At the end of the 2006 film, Rocky offers Marie and Steps jobs at his restaurant, Adrian’s. When Adonis meets Rocky Balboa, they are at Adrian’s restaurant, meaning that it would have been the perfect opportunity for Marie and Steps to return. Creed could have shown how Rocky and Marie’s relationship had developed, making the transition between the Rocky movies and the Creed series go a lot smoother.
Marie’s Rocky Balboa Story Perfectly Ties Into Creed
Marie returning in Creed would have been more than a fun cameo, as her Rocky Balboa story actually perfectly ties into the first movie. Much like Adonis Creed, Marie and Steps are down on their luck, with Rocky deciding to take them in and act as a mentor and father figure. Having Adonis meet Marie and Steps would have shown that Rocky truly can make a difference in his life, foreshadowing the events of the Creed movies. Marie acts as a supportive member of Rocky’s team in Rocky Balboa, and she could have performed a similar role in Creed, with her potential spin-off story being completely wasted.
On top of that, the story of Marie’s son Steps also perfectly parallels Adonis Creed’s story. In Rocky Balboa, Steps is troubled, with Marie worried that his life on the streets could lead to him getting into even more trouble. Steps had an absent father and a bad upbringing, with Rocky stepping in in an attempt to get Steps back on track. Adonis’ childhood was almost exactly like Steps’, meaning that Adonis’ storyline would have perfectly tied into the ending of Steps’ story. Marie is even similar to Adonis’ mother, Mary Anne Creed, meaning that the two of them could have had a relationship as well.
How Marie Could Return In Creed 4
Due to Marie and Steps perfectly mirroring Mary Anne and Adonis, Marie needs to return in Creed IV. Now that Adonis is running a gym, it’s possible that he could sign a now-adult Steps on as one of his fighters, making the story of Marie and Steps connect to the Creed series. Marie could also be a symbol of Rocky’s legacy, as Sylvester Stallone’s absence from Creed III means that Creed IV‘s Rocky connections will be more about the character’s impact. Although Marie is presumably still in Philadelphia, there are plenty of ways that she and her son could finally return in Creed IV.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
