The Cosby Show alum Phylicia Rashad is joining the upcoming Rocky spinoff Creed, as the widow of Rocky Balboa’s arch-nemesis, Apollo Creed.

Michael B. Jordan (2103’s Fruitvale Station) stars as Creed’s grandson, Adonis, who, despite his wealthy upbringing, longs to follow in his grandfather’s boxing footsteps. Sylvester Stallone‘s Rocky Balboa reluctantly agrees to act as a trainer and advisor. Rashad will portray Jordan’s grandmother, Mary Anne Creed, portrayed in the 1976 original by Lavelle Roby in an uncredited role.

Creed reunites Jordan with his Fruitvale director Ryan Coogler. Coogler will direct from a script he wrote with first-timer Aaron Covington. Stallone serves as a producer alongside original Rocky producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff.

Rashad has found herself in the news of late, staunchly defending her former leading man Bill Cosby from charges of impropriety on several media fronts.

Creed is currently in pre-production and is aiming for a 2016 release.