Michael B. Jordan opens up about a powerful lesson he learned after stepping away from one of the most intense roles of his career.
As he reflects on his time playing Erik Killmonger in the 2018 Marvel blockbuster. black pantherThe actor revealed that the role stayed with him long after filming wrapped and eventually led him to therapy.
talking to CBS Sunday morningJordan shared that he needed time and professional support to completely separate himself from the character.
“After the movie, it stuck with me for a while,” he said.
“I went to therapy, I talked about it, I found a way to just decompress. And I think at that point I was still learning that I needed to decompress from a character.”
Jordan explained that acting can often be an isolating process, both emotionally and physically, which made the experience even more intense.
“Many times, acting is a solo journey,” he added.
“Audition for yourself, practice for yourself. There’s a lot of preparation, experience and travel. So I learned as I went, [realised] that, ‘Oh man, I still have something on me that I need to get out.’ You know, talking is really important.”
He Creed The star said the difficulty letting go was due to how deeply he immersed himself in Killmonger’s mentality before filming began.
During preparation, Jordan isolated himself and limited communication with loved ones. That emotional distance reflected the character’s own pain and anger.
“Erik didn’t really know much about love. I think Erik didn’t experience that,” Jordan explained.
“He had a lot of betrayal, a lot of failed systems around him that shaped him and his anger and his frustration.”
Jordan starred black panther alongside the late Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke and others under the direction of Ryan Coogler.
The film became a cultural milestone and a smash hit, grossing $1.34 billion worldwide upon its release in February 2018.
Looking back, Jordan’s experience highlights the emotional weight actors can carry when they fully commit to complex roles, and the importance of mental health care in helping them move forward.
