Michael B. Jordan has revealed that portraying the villain Erik Killmonger in the 2018 film Black Panther led him to therapy to decompress from the character's mindset. In a recent interview, the actor discussed how his deep immersion into the role affected him emotionally. He emphasized the importance of therapy, particularly for men, in processing such intense performances.
Michael B. Jordan made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Erik Killmonger in Ryan Coogler's 2018 blockbuster Black Panther, a role that profoundly impacted him. Speaking on CBS Sunday Morning, Jordan explained that Killmonger's backstory of betrayal and lack of love lingered after filming. "I think Erik didn’t experience that," he said. "He had a lot of betrayal, a lot of failed systems around him that shaped him and his anger and his frustration."
To prepare, Jordan isolated himself and limited contact with his family, attempting to live as the character would. This method acting approach caused the emotions to "stick with me for a bit" post-production. "After the movie, it kind of stuck with me for a bit. I went to therapy, talked about it, found a way to kind of just decompress," Jordan recounted. He noted that acting often feels like a "solo journey," with much preparation done alone, and there was "no blueprint" for separating from such a role.
The therapy sessions expanded into broader self-discovery, helping him become a better communicator. "Therapy is necessary … especially for men," he affirmed, adding, "So, that’s something I’m not ashamed of at all and very proud of." Black Panther, starring Jordan alongside Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and others, grossed $1.34 billion worldwide after its February 2018 release. Jordan's experience underscores the mental health challenges actors face in immersive roles.
