Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan recently disclosed the complex background of the Smokestack twins from the film Sinners, revealing critical elements of Smoke and Stack’s past that were not fully detailed on screen. This insight into their origin story enriches the narrative and explains the twins’ return to their Mississippi hometown after years away.
The timeline laid out by Coogler begins with the twins’ dramatic act of killing their father, followed by a period of hiding at Mary’s mother’s house. From there, they moved to New York and eventually joined the military. Their service took them to fight in France during World War I, and upon returning, they briefly came back to Mississippi. This return became significant in developing Stack’s relationship with Mary, who had matured during their absence.
They killed their father, hid out at Mary’s mom’s place, then went to New York and joined the military. Went to fight in France, came back, and they went back home for a little bit,
Ryan Coogler, Director
Developing Relationships and Division Between the Brothers
Coogler detailed how Stack’s dynamic with Mary shifted during this time. Mary, older now, became the center of Stack’s attention in a different way. Michael B. Jordan described this change, noting a new perspective in Stack’s feelings towards her. However, their romance was complicated since Mary had always been like a younger sister to the twins, and tensions arose because of this connection and the disapproval from Smoke and Mary’s mother.
Mary was older, so, that was when Stack and Mary happened,
Ryan Coogler, Director
And [Stack started] seeing her in a different light.
Michael B. Jordan, Actor
Because she was like a younger sister to them, you know? Smoke and Mary’s mom didn’t love that.
Ryan Coogler, Director
This period also marked a rift between the brothers. Coogler described a separation lasting roughly three years, during which Stack and Mary relocated to Little Rock, while Smoke pursued a life with Annie. The tragic loss of their daughter eventually drew the twins back together in Chicago, where they both abandoned their partners.
It was like a three-year run where the twins had basically broke up,
Ryan Coogler, Director
When they lost their daughter was when things got rocky. They both basically left their partners and met up again in Chicago,
Ryan Coogler, Director
From Al Capone’s Workforce to Building Their Own Path
Further details shared by Jordan revealed that the brothers worked closely with Al Capone, handling the more dangerous and unsavory tasks that Capone chose to avoid. This exposure allowed them to understand the criminal underworld deeply. Armed with this knowledge, they planned to leverage their experience to establish their own operation back in Mississippi.
doing the jobs that Capone didn’t want to do himself.
Michael B. Jordan, Actor
These revelations offer fans a comprehensive understanding of the intricate and dark past of the twins in Sinners, expanding on the Oscar-nominated film’s narrative.
SINNERS lore unlocked 🤫🔓 pic.twitter.com/Moq4MpEBAg
— PROXIMITY MEDIA (@proximitymedia) January 27, 2026
