The wait is finally over. Michael B. Jordan returns as Adonis Creed in CREED III also starring Jonathan Majors, and Tessa Thompson.

After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose.

Creed III is the third installment in the successful franchise and is Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut.

Entertainment Affair recently joined Michael B. Jordan, actors Tessa Thompson (Bianca Creed), Mil Davis-Kent (Amara Creed), Jonathan Majors (Damian Anderson), Wood Harris (Tony “Little Duke” Burton), and Selenis Leyva (Laura Chavez), writers Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, and producer Ryan Coogler for the films global press conference. Check out a few highlights of the event below.

Michael B. Jordan credits Ryan Coogler for getting him behind the camera

Jordan prepared for his first time in the director’s chair speaking with Coogler, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper and Denzel Washington, but it was Coogler who first planted the seed in Jordan’s head.

“Ryan told me that I could direct. I was in awe of what he was doing, seeing a black man my age, somebody I was getting to know at that time making Fruitvale Station, commanding a set and seeing what was possible,” Jordan recalled. “Him telling me, like, ‘Mike, you can do this too,’ was when that first seed got planted in my head. We did Creed, and Creed II came along when Steven Caple Jr. jumped into the director’s chair, and the third one seemed like the perfect time. I talked to some people I respect the opinions of, and Ryan was one of them.”

The actor-director added, “Preparing to shoot this movie, Ryan had a lot of thoughts, and he was a great sounding board for me, so Jon, Bradley, and Denzel. Those are some people that I tapped into to get their opinions.”

Tessa Thompson spoke about how her and Jordan’s personal growth was communicated through the characters

“I think the thing that I am finding so fascinating is the ways in which our growth, our personal growth as people gets to be communicated inside of the characters in a way. And that is a very unique thing. I mean, we’re separate in a way, but I think some of the things that our characters are contending with, and some of the things that Mike and I are contending with personally, we get to explore in the context of these films. And I think that’s something that is really a gift,” said Thompson.

Thompson went on to say, “I think in terms of some of the things that we’re unpacking in this, which has to do with, like, what does it look like to have a successful partnership inside of your dreams? We get to ask [these questions] inside of the context of making these films. Like, what does your personhood look like when it’s not entirely tethered to what you do in the world or what you make, or your success. Or, what does it look like to unpack masculinity? What does friendship look like? What does Black brotherhood look like inside of spaces that typically are competitive?”

Jonathan Majors touched on what was the one thing that remained central to his character

“I think the most ancient quality that was put in by the homies was this aspiration for freedom. And not just physical freedom, but mental freedom. And that never changed. That never shifted. That was the thing that I went, “Okay, that makes sense to me.” They baked it in. Mike saw it. We went after it. You know. It’s the most universal quality in the piece.”

“Second to that was ‘brotherhood’ and that becomes paramount in the story, because that connects my character to the hero,” Majors said.

See the film only in theaters March 3.