Action star Sylvester Stallone has heaped praise on "Creed" director Ryan Coogler after being bashed for not thanking him during his initial acceptance speech at 73rd Golden Globe Awards.
The 69-year-old star received the best supporting actor awards for sports drama "Creed" for his performance as boxer Rocky Balboa in the movie.
The actor However, he made sure he singled out Coogler, 29, for acclaim at the film's European premiere in London describing the story he created as "magic".
Speaking at the event held in Leicester Square, Stallone said, "This fella here, Ryan Coogler, he's a genius - he really is. Because he took something that lacked the element of surprise - people know Rocky, and so when you hear about it your eyes roll, you go, 'Again?'
"But that's the magic of what he pulled off. I'm just an old dog learning new tricks."
Stallone also revealed he and his co-star Michael B Jordan, who plays Adonis 'Donnie' Creed, the son of Apollo Creed who he trains to be a fighter, shared a great chemistry from the first day on set.
"It either works or it doesn't - like love at first sight. It was mutual respect at first sight."
"Creed" is the seventh Rocky film, both a spin-off from the original series and a sequel to 2006's "Rocky Balboa".
