'Rocky' sequel gets going

SHOULD WE be on the lookout for actor Michael B. Jordan running up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps?

The young up-and-comer will be involved in quite a few more sightings around town as filming for "Creed," the "Rocky" sequel in which he is starring, alongside Sylvester Stallone, heats up. Jordan, who got rave reviews for his performance in "Fruitvale Station" and will star in the upcoming "Fantastic Four" reboot, hit up the Sixers' loss on Friday against Oklahoma City.

In "Creed," directed by Ryan Coogler and set to start shooting next month, Jordan plays Apollo Creed's grandson.

I hear that location scouts were checking out Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Ave.) as a potential place to shoot. "Rocky" devotees, of course, will remember that Rocky's wife, Adrian Balboa, played by Talia Shire in "Rocky" installments 1 to 5, is buried there. "People come from all over the world to see her headstone," said Laurel Hill's Bill Doran.

Casting is also ramping up. Despite a rainy Saturday, 500 Philadelphians showed up at South Philadelphia High School for a Heery Casting call to be extras on the set. (Couldn't make it this weekend? You can still be an extra. Go to heerycasting.com for details on how to email an application.)

* Jordan wasn't the only star who showed up at Friday's Sixers game, which also doubled as Wilt Chamberlain's stamp-dedication ceremony. The Roots' Frankie Knuckles, Eagles Connor Barwin, Darren Sproles, Riley Cooper and Fletcher Cox, and Sixers icons Julius Erving and Wali Jones all showed up to support the ailing Sixers.

Philly's own Kevin Hart will hit his hometown tonight for the premiere of his new movie, "The Wedding Ringer." Hart will be at the UA Riverview (1400 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd.) for the new comedy in which he plays Jimmy Callahan, a man who hires himself out as a best man to friendless grooms. In this particular case, he aids Josh Gad ("Frozen"), who is marrying Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting ("The Big Bang Theory"). The screening is preticketed and private, so don't expect a seat.

"The Wedding Ringer" comes out Jan. 16.

Locally raised actor Leo Rossi ("The Accused," "Analyze This") has become a granddad for the first time to little Noval Van Koonig. But that doesn't mean he's slowing down. I hear that the actor has a film project in the works that will bring him back to the Philadelphia area to shoot. He's keeping mum on the script, but he did tease to me that the movie is based on a true Philly story that made national headlines and led to 14 cover stories from the illustrious Daily News alone. Rossi promised I'd be the first to hear about the project when he could reveal more, so stay tuned.

* Detroit Tiger Justin Verlander, Los Angeles Angel (and Millville, N.J.'s own) Mike Trout and golfer Rory McIlroy hit up yesterday's Eagles game and were welcomed by team owner Jeff Lurie.

* Seattle Seahawk Russell Wilson wanted the best cheesesteak in Philly, so he asked Twitter for suggestions. Of course, he was flooded with 'em, but he landed on Steve's Prince of Steaks (41 S. 16th St.), Instagramming his pic with a couple of staffers. I also got a tip that Wilson stopped by Tony Luke's (36 E. Oregon Ave.) on the recommendation of his buddy Mark Wahlberg (y'know, the actor), but a manager at the South Philly institution couldn't confirm whether Wilson doubled down on the cheesesteak front.

* Actress Jane Seymour, who was in town for her art show at the Wentworth Gallery at the King of Prussia Mall, dined at Center City Italian joint Little Nonna's (1234 Locust St.) on Friday. When I told her that some Philadelphians think her "open hearts" mural at 15th and South streets is just an advertisement for her Kay Jewelers line, the former "Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman" said, "The whole concept of opening your heart and highlighting that is not being pushed down your throat. No one is forced to look at it. Don't like it? Don't look at it."

* Consummate teen idol Bobby Rydell helped open up the Market at Maglio's (3632 S. 3rd St.), along with owners Anthony Maglio Jr. and Anthony L. Maglio, on Wednesday night. The market offers Maglio Sausage Co. products alongside prepared goodies.

* Man-about-town Harry Jay Katz celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary with wife Debra at the place where he proposed, the Prime Rib (1701 Locust St.). Katz assured me that romance (and a few tears) was in the air: "Me, the former playboy and still the man-about-town," Katz said. "I started crying and sobbing."

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