"I felt Chadwick around me": Michael B. Jordan reflects on how late Chadwick Boseman helped his 'Sinners' performance

Sinners actor Michael B. Jordan has opened up about how his late Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman inspired his latest performance.

Jordan, who first gained critical attention in Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station before taking on the role of Adonis Creed, played the villain Erik Killmonger opposite Boseman in Black Panther and later reprised the role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever after Boseman’s passing.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Jordan revealed that his portrayal of twin characters Smoke and Stack in Sinners was deeply influenced by Boseman.

Michael B. Jordan as 'Stack' and 'Smoke' in Sinners (2025)

The film marks Jordan’s fifth collaboration with Coogler, and the actor described how the director challenged him during the preparation process by invoking the memory of their late friend.

Jordan explained that it was the first time he had the opportunity to portray fully formed adult characters, and he took the role seriously.

“Smoke and Stack know exactly who they are. They’re not changing, they’re through and through grown men. And that was the first time I got a chance to play a fully developed man. And so I took the opportunity to build them out that way and to go the extra mile, surround myself with the tools that I needed to prepare and stay in it.”

Jordan shared that Coogler’s mention of Boseman deeply affected him, though the director never had to bring it up again.

The emotional weight of the reference remained with him throughout the production.

“Chadwick Boseman means a lot to us, and once Ryan challenged me by asking, what would Chad be doing right now? And sh*t, man, it broke us up, man. It broke us up, meaning emotionally. But he ain’t had to say nothing else after that. That was one of the buttons that he could push. And I felt [Chadwick] around me during this.”

Playing identical twins with unique traits posed a significant acting challenge, and Jordan turned to Boseman’s legacy for guidance.

His experience working with Boseman and Coogler provided both inspiration and emotional depth to his performance.

Jordan's respect for Boseman’s talent and presence clearly continues to shape his work, and the strength of his creative bond with Coogler has only deepened that influence.

With Sinners enjoying a strong box office run, Jordan’s dual role as Smoke and Stack is being praised as some of his best work to date.

The subtle and powerful presence of Boseman is felt throughout the film, and it is likely that his impact will continue to echo through future collaborations between Jordan and Coogler.