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One of the film's pivotal moments was finding the perfect actor to portray Apollo Creed. The role required someone of a stature above Rocky—an aristocrat of boxing, a suave, intelligent, and confident champion. As the project neared its shooting start, the filmmakers struggled to find someone who fit this ideal. The search was intense because Creed needed to be a character with both class and charisma, a figure who could stand toe-to-toe with Rocky while adding depth and color to the narrative.