Michael B. Jordan sought therapy after playing Killmonger

Movieweb reports Michael B. Jordan said the role of Erik Killmonger in Black Panther lingered after filming, and that he went to therapy to decompress, remarks he made on CBS Sunday Morning.

Jordan played the villainous Erik Killmonger in Marvel's 2018 film; critics and audiences praised his menacing yet sympathetic performance. He said he was unable to "decompress" after filming: "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. And I think at that point, I was still learning that I needed to decompress from a character." He added that acting is often "a solo journey" and that "talking is really important." To inhabit Killmonger he isolated himself and cut off regular contact with his family, saying, "Erik didn't really know a lot of love. I think Erik didn't experience that. He had a lot of betrayal, a lot of failed systems around him that shaped him and his anger and his frustration."

Jordan said he sought therapy and "found a way to kind of just decompress." The article noted other actors can face similar issues: Austin Butler continued to speak with Elvis's accent for months, hired a dialect coach and said he had to "remember" who he was, though it has not been revealed if Butler also received therapy. Jordan's account indicates some performers continue to carry roles beyond production and that he took steps to address that.

Key Topics

Culture, Michael B. Jordan, Erik Killmonger, Black Panther, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Therapy