
When the “Creed II” filmmakers were looking for the actor who could play Viktor Drago, they needed someone who physically resembled the tall, imposing character and could also act and box. After months of reviewing hundreds of photos, videos, and audition tapes, producer, screenwriter and castmember Sylvester Stallone found the 235-pound, 6-foot-4 boxer from Germany named Florian “Big Nasty” Munteanu.
“I had a feeling about Florian,” Stallone says. “It’s very hard to get the whole package when you’re casting a role like this. We could find big guys who could fight but couldn’t act. Or guys who looked great but couldn’t fight. Florian is unique.” Munteanu, an amateur heavyweight with a 68-10 (with six draws) record, was told by his fight manager that the producers of “Creed II” had seen his photos and videos and wanted to know if he was interested in auditioning. Soon thereafter, the twenty-seven-year-old Romanian-German boxer — who grew up watching the Rocky films with his father, an avid boxer — was told “Sylvester Stallone wants to Skype with you.”


Lundgren was also struck by the many parallels between himself and Munteanu. “There are many similarities,” Lundgren says. “He’s the same age I was when I played Ivan. I’m from Europe; he’s from Europe. We both started at age ten working out and fighting. I was involved in karate and he was involved in K-1 kickboxing and boxing. I think Michael and Stallone are about the same size, and Florian is my height, so the physical contrast is similar.”

“Michael and I are almost exactly the same age, and we’re also pretty much on the same side when it comes to the values we appreciate,” adds Munteanu. “He’s a family guy who appreciates loyal people and honest people around him. We immediately clicked, and after a few weeks we became good friends. It was a great thing for me because besides the fact that I was the new guy on set, I also had no family or friends with me while filming. Michael said if there’s anything I needed, I can come to him, and I really valued that.”
Now showing in cinemas, “Creed II” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a WarnerMedia Company.
About “Creed II”
In “Creed II,” life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. “Creed II” is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.
Directed by Steven Caple Jr., written by Sylvester Stallone and Cheo Hodari Coker (“Luke Cage”) and taking direct inspiration from Ryan Coogler‘s 2015 “Creed,” ”Creed II” will see Michael B. Jordan return as Adonis Johnson, son of Apollo Creed, to continue his training under Rocky Balboa (Stallone) in order to prep for what’s sure to be a brutal fight against Vitor Drago (Florian Munteanu), the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). Tessa Thompson also returns as Adonis’ love interest, Bianca, and Coogler is on board as an executive producer.
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