Michael B Jordan Kept Journals as Erik Killmonger to Prepare for ‘Black Panther’
So far, in 2018, the Marvel Cinematic Universe debuted two films that made an incredible impact on the pop culture realm. Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, in addition to their incredible stories and storytellers, had amazing casts that helped bring those stories to life.
In Black Panther, Michael B Jordan played the role of Erik Killmonger. Kin to T’Challa, but a victim of circumstance. The film relied heavily on that fact which meant that Jordan’s portrayal of the character played a hand in making the movie so successful.
In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Jordan discussed a huge part of what helped him take on the role.
‘I have journals, or diaries, or whatever, for every character that I have, from the earliest memory up until the first page of the script, and for me, it just kind of gives you context.’
Killmonger isn’t the only character he kept a journal for. Jordan says it helps him to channel his characters for a number of roles. However, with the recent digital release of Black Panther and upcoming DVD release, Killmonger was the point of this discussion.
‘Not having his mom growing up, in and out of the system, foster care, foster homes and whatnot. It’s a lot of dark stuff that’s probably not right for television. But it was deep, and it allowed me to kind of go to that place right before a scene. It allowed me to lock in.’
His performance of Killmonger was hailed as not just one of the best in Black Panther but in the entire MCU as a whole. It comes as no surprise that he gave so much of himself to the role. It was evident in the way you left the theater having felt love for his villain.
You can see Jordan in Black Panther, available now on demand.
‘…but I knew him’
