In two weeks, Michael B. Jordan makes his return to the superhero movie genre as he takes on the role of the villainous Erik Killmonger in Marvel Studios’ Black Panther. It is of course the second Marvel movie for Jordan in recent years, with the actor portraying Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in 20th Century Fox’s critical and commercial bomb Fantastic Four, and during an interview with Screen Rant, the star was asked whether he had any hesitation about joining another superhero movie after that disastrous outing.
“Zero hesitation to do another comic book movie,” said Jordan. “I guess I got brought in later in the game because that was the natural process – we and Ryan Coogler still talked everyday, and I still, still kind of in an unofficial capacity, had always been part of it. No hesitation, really, to do another comic book film. I’m a geek, I love this world, I love being able to play in that fantastic kind of space. I looked at it as another shot to get it right, to do it again, and especially teaming up with [Director of Photography] Rachel Morrison again and Ryan, it’s a very comfortable space with me. It’s the perfect space for me to take another risk like this, so it was no hesitation on my part.”
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Given Marvel Studios’ track record, it’s probably one of the least-riskiest risks that Jordan will take in his career, and if the early buzz is any indication, it’s one that is certainly going to pay off.
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
Black Panther sees Ryan Coogler (Creed) directing Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa alongside Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, JoOhn Kani as King T’Chaka and Nabiyah Be as Nightshade. The film is set for release on February 12th in the UK and on February 16th in the States.
