Michael B. Jordan may have a decade-long creative partnership with Ryan Coogler, but it’s another one of Jordan’s past directors who has influenced his relationship to fans the most: Denzel Washington.
Washington directed Jordan in 2021 film “A Journal For Jordan.” According to “Sinners” actor Jordan, Washington imparted wisdom about how to navigate fame in the social media era. Washington advised Jordan to stay offline as a way to entice audiences to go to theaters, telling Jordan, “Why would they pay to see you on a weekend if they see you all week for free?”
Jordan told Vulture the story, adding that between his hectic shooting schedule — Jordan is set to direct, produce, and star in “The Thomas Crown Affair” remake as well as “I Am Legend 2” — he hasn’t “really been out in the world” anyway.
Jordan did, however, anticipate his own personal desire to document his life: The star hired a videographer in 2018 to capture his journey both onscreen and off. That videographer later was Jordan’s assistant on his directorial debut “Creed III” and will be an associate producer on “Thomas Crown.”
“The intent was me feeling like I don’t take in the moments,” Jordan said. “Because I’m always on the go, always working and grinding. One day I wanted to have something to reflect on outside of the memories in my head. […] I’ve missed out on a lot of life. I’m not complaining — but that balance is something I’ve always struggled with, of the personal and professional stuff.”
Jordan might reunite with his mentor Washington soon, too, as Washington teased his involvement in “Black Panther 3.” The film has not yet been announced but Coogler is expected to return to helm the MCU film. It’s unclear if Jordan would reprise his role, though, as his character died in the first film and was briefly resurrected for a dream sequence in the sequel.
Jordan reflected to Vulture about how Coogler believing in him and his talent changed his career after being cast in Coogler’s directorial debut “Fruitvale Station.”
“He told me he thought I was a movie star,” Jordan said. “He thought I was a great actor, and he wanted to show the rest of the world that, and he wanted to make the movie with me.”
