Michael B. Jordan shared that immersing himself deeply into his role as Erik Killmonger in the 2018 Marvel movie Black Panther led him to seek therapy afterward. During an interview promoting his Oscar-nominated film Sinners, Jordan explained how the intensity of portraying the villain affected his mental state, prompting him to take time for professional help to decompress.
In Black Panther, Killmonger is a complex antagonist who returns to Wakanda, the advanced African nation, to challenge his cousin Prince T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, for the throne. The character’s backstory includes being an orphan with a lonely, traumatic upbringing. Jordan described isolating himself to evoke Killmonger’s mindset during filming. He said,
“So, for a while in preparation for that role, I didn’t really speak to my family that much. I was kind of isolated a bit. I went to my hole and tried to live like he would have lived for a bit, whatever that process was. After the movie, it kind of stuck with me for a bit. Went to therapy, talked about it, found a way to kind of just decompress. I think at that point, I was still learning that I needed to decompress from a character.”
Jordan acknowledged throughout the experience that acting can be a solitary process. He recognized the toll this isolation took on his well-being and saw therapy as a necessary step for recovery. He conveyed pride in pursuing therapy, stating,
“That’s something I’m not ashamed of at all and very proud of,”
and added,
“It definitely helped me throughout the years and to this day, of trying to be a good communicator and well-rounded person inside and out.”
How Michael B. Jordan Connects Deeply with His Characters
In the same CBS Sunday Morning interview with Tracy Smith, Jordan revealed that the characters he portrays tend to linger with him long after filming ends. His intense connection with each role sometimes blurs the lines between himself and the character, making it difficult to detach emotionally.
He reflected,
“Each character kind of lives with you. They don’t go anywhere. They’re there,”
and explained,
“Some piece of that character … it’s a blurred line between yourself and the character, for me, anyway.”
Regarding Killmonger, Jordan emphasized seeing him not simply as a villain but as a multifaceted figure shaped by hardship. He explained their similarities, noting that both Killmonger and T’Challa care deeply for their people but take different paths based on their experiences.
“He was the other side of a conversation. Him and T’Challa were a lot alike, they both cared about their people, deeply, and would do anything to protect them,”
and added,
“They just had two different approaches and strategies and mentalities around it all, shaped by their childhood trauma.”
The loneliness and lack of love in Killmonger’s life deeply influenced Jordan’s portrayal. He described the character’s pain and frustration rooted in betrayal and societal failures, stating,
“And Erik didn’t really know a lot of love. Erik didn’t experience that. He had a lot of betrayal,”
and further explained,
“He had a lot of failed systems around him that shaped him, and his anger and his frustration, and looking at history and how it seemed to always repeat itself, and how was he going to break that cycle?”
New Challenges with Michael B. Jordan’s Dual Role in Sinners
In January 2026, Michael B. Jordan earned his first Oscar nomination for his dual performances in Sinners, a film directed by his frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler. The movie, set in the 1930s Mississippi Delta, tells a gripping and complex story of twin brothers Elijah Smoke and Elias Stack Moore, played by Jordan, who struggle to open a juke joint while facing threats not only from outsiders but darker dangers within their community. The film achieved a historic 16 Oscar nods overall.
Jordan described the intense preparation he undertook to differentiate the twins convincingly. He recounted locking himself away and engaging in chakra work to explore how childhood trauma physically manifested in each character’s movements, speech, and demeanor. He said,
“I locked myself away and we did some chakra work and explored how childhood trauma manifested itself physically with these guys — the way they speak, the cadence, how they rest,”
and reflected,
“I started to feel subtle differences as I shifted between Smoke and Stack. It’s crazy because sometimes I’d look in the mirror and say, ‘Wow, I don’t see myself at all.’ That’s when you know you’re moving in the right direction.”
Jordan’s disciplined and immersive approach has continually led to compelling performances, showcased both in Black Panther and his recent work. Currently, Black Panther is available on Disney+, and Sinners can be streamed on HBO Max.
The Lasting Impact of Michael B. Jordan’s Commitment to His Craft
Michael B. Jordan’s willingness to delve deeply into challenging roles highlights the complexity and intensity of his acting process. His openness about using therapy after portraying Killmonger underscores the emotional weight that such dedication carries. This approach not only enriches his performances but also sheds light on the mental health challenges actors face when fully embodying demanding characters.
As Jordan continues to evolve artistically and personally, his honesty about the need for balance and recovery may encourage broader discussions within the entertainment industry about emotional well-being. His collaboration with Ryan Coogler also promises further thought-provoking projects that push boundaries in storytelling and character exploration.
