‘Black Panther’ Star Michael B. Jordan Revealed He Wanted to Play a Villain Years Before Joining the MCU
Thus far, Marvel has not revealed how Black Panther II will address the tragic death of star Chadwick Boseman in 2020. But co-star Michael B. Jordan has made it no secret he’d love to remain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, the Black Panther actor said he wanted to play a comic book villain years before he ever joined the MCU as Erik Killmonger.
Michael B. Jordan played 2 superheroes before joining the MCU
Jordan might have made an impression with his MCU debut in 2018’s Black Panther. But the role wasn’t his first in the Marvel universe. In fact, it wasn’t even his first foray into superhero territory. Jordan plays a teen who — along with a pair of friends (Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell) — develops superpowers in Josh Tranks’s 2012 found-footage movie Chronicle.
Then just three years later, Jordan re-teamed with Trank for the 2015 Fantastic Four reboot. In that movie, the actor plays Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch opposite Miles Teller, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell. Just before its release, Trank blasted Fantastic Four on Twitter (via Slashfilm). And the movie turned out to be a notorious bomb and critical disaster.
The actor faced off with Chadwick Boseman in 2018’s ‘Black Panther’
Although Jordan admitted he was disappointed with Fantastic Four, the self-professed “comic book guy” told New York Daily News he’d prefer to play a villain instead. Especially after playing a series of heroes in films such as Creed, Jordan made it known he was ready to tap into his darker side.
“I want to play a villain so bad, just a villain,” Jordan told New York Daily News. “I’ve been playing the good guys, and that’s cool. But just to play a villain, that’s so opposite of who I am.”
Apparently, someone at Marvel has have noticed. Because once Coogler signed on for Black Panther, he brought his Fruitvale Station and Creed star along for the ride. As Erik Killmonger, Jordan went toe to toe with Boseman. And the MCU got one of its most popular super-villains in the process.
Will Michael B. Jordan join the ‘Black Panther 2’ cast?
In the world of comic books, no one is ever really gone. To that end, some Marvel fans have pinned their hopes on Jordan returning for Black Panther II. After all, Coogler will return for the Marvel sequel. And Jordan has appeared in all of his directorial efforts to date. So why not continue that partnership with the sequel?
While Jordan didn’t confirm or deny his involvement in Black Panther II, he did admit a return “will always be on the table in some capacity.” Even in the first film, Killmonger and Boseman’s T’Challa both visit the Ancestral Plane, where Wakandan kings commune with past rulers. Killmonger briefly served as the nation’s king. So a cameo, at least, might be in order.
