Michael B Jordan's risen from actor to Hollywood star in recent years, and we're only a couple weeks away from seeing his version of Erik Killmonger cause trouble in Black Panther. But the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe story isn't the first time Jordan has appeared in a comic book movie, as he previously played Johnny Storm, a.k.a. The Human Torch, in 2015's Fantastic Four. The reboot was a critical and commercial bomb, but that experience didn't turn Jordan off from wanting to lend his talents to Black Panther. When asked if he had any hesitation with appearing in another comic book movie, Jordan responded:
Zero hesitation to do another comic book movie. I guess I got brought in later in the game because that was the natural process -- we and Ryan still talked everyday, and I still, still kind of in an unofficial capacity, had always been part of it. No hesitation, really, to do another comic book film. I'm a geek, I love this world, I love being able to play in that fantastic kind of space. I looked at it as another shot to get it right, to do it again, and especially teaming up with [Director of Photography] Rachel [Morrison] again and Ryan, it's a very comfortable space with me. It's the perfect space for me to take another risk like this, so it was no hesitation on my part.
Although Michael B. Jordan previously voiced Cyborg in the animated movie Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Fantastic Four was his debut in the live action side of the superhero genre, and while there were plans for Jordan and his co-stars to return for Fantastic Four 2, the first movie's lackluster performance killed any chances of a sequel being made. Nevertheless, Jordan's love of comic book media runs deep, and as he explained CinemaBlend's own Eric Eisenberg and a group of other reporters, he saw Black Panther as an opportunity to revisit this kind of storytelling. The Fantastic Four reboot ultimately failed to impress, but at least Jordan was able to jump into the MCU only a few years later. Let's also not forget that Jordan isn't the only Human Torch who was given a second chance by the MCU, as Chris Evans portrayed the character in last decade's Fantastic Four movies and went on to play Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America.
While Michael B. Jordan's first turn in a comic book movie was as a hero, he's on the opposite end of the spectrum for Black Panther. Exiled from Wakanda, the MCU's Erik Killmonger became an American black-ops soldier, and he'll return to his homeland in the upcoming Marvel movie and ally himself with South African arms dealer Ulysses Klaue to overthrow King T'Challa from the throne. Like his comic book counterpart, Jordan's Killmonger is a skilled fighter, but he'll also obtain his own Black Panther suit, making him an even greater threat.
Black Panther hits theaters on February 16, and we'll return to Wakanda when Avengers: Infinity War is released on May 4.
