Dear White People star Tessa Thompson has landed the female lead in MGM's Rocky spinoff Creed. No details were given for the actress' character, but she will star alongside Michael B. Jordan as the grandson of Apollo Creed, with Sylvester Stallone also starring as Rocky Balboa. The project was first announced back in July 2013, when Michael B. Jordan signed on to star for his Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler, who is co-writing the script with Aaron Covington.

The story follows Creed's grandson, raised in the lap of luxury, who has a natural instinct for boxing and pursues a career in the sweet science, against his family's wishes. Rocky Balboa, who is now a fight trainer, steps in to mentor and train the young man. The plot will also delve into the mythology of the entire Rocky franchise. We also reported last month that real-life boxers Andre Ward and Tony Bellew have signed on to star. Andre Ward will play Creed's nemesis Pretty Ricky Porter, although no details were given for Tony Bellew's character.

Original Rocky producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff are producing alongside Sylvester Stallone and Kevin King Templeton. No production schedule has been given at this time. Aside from her role in Dear White People, which earned her a Gotham Award for Best Breakthrough Actress, Tessa Thompson, will next be seen in Selma, opening in limited release on Christmas Day. She has also recently starred on the small screen in Copper.