Steven Caple Jr. (born May 19, 1988, in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American film and television director, producer, and screenwriter known for his dynamic range from gritty indie dramas to major studio franchises. He began his career with award-winning shorts—including the HBO Short Film Competition winner A Different Tree—before making his feature debut with the critically noted drama The Land (2016), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned him a Black Reel nomination for Outstanding Emerging Director and recognition for Outstanding First Screenplay.

Caple broke into mainstream Hollywood when he directed Creed II (2018), the sequel to the Rocky franchise’s breakout spin-off starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, earning widespread acclaim and solid box office returns. He has also directed television episodes—including Grown-ish and the Netflix series Rapture—and his early work garnered awards from the Directors Guild of America, NBC Shortcuts, and the American Black Film Festival.

In 2023, Caple helmed Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, becoming the first Black director in the storied franchise’s live-action history and overseeing the global blockbuster release. Across his career he has received multiple nominations and several industry awards, with IMDb listing six wins and ten nominations to his name. Beyond directing, Caple has been recognized on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list and continues expanding his creative footprint with projects in development, including adaptations and television series under his production banner while maintaining roots in mentoring emerging storytellers.