Michael B. Jordan is no stranger to blockbuster success, and his most recent hit, Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners, is proof. The film has raked in over $350 million worldwide, further cementing Jordan’s reputation as a modern movie star. But this success, according to Jordan, hasn’t come by accident — it’s the result of deliberate choices to preserve his mystique.
In a recent New York Magazine cover story, Jordan revealed that he limits his social media presence and avoids oversharing in interviews to maintain a sense of exclusivity. It’s a tactic he learned from one of his greatest mentors: Denzel Washington. “Why would they pay to see you on a weekend if they see you all week for free?” Washington told him, warning about the pitfalls of overexposure in today’s celebrity-saturated culture.
Jordan took the advice to heart. Despite boasting 25 million followers on Instagram, he posts infrequently, primarily during press tours or film promotions. He steers clear of platforms like TikTok and X entirely. For Jordan, protecting the idea of himself as a movie star means staying out of the public eye unless he’s on-screen.
That focus has shaped his career since the early days. After gaining attention with television roles in The Wire and Friday Night Lights, Jordan said he once questioned whether he’d ever make the leap to film stardom. “I just wanted an indie film,” he recalled. “I needed to know if I could carry a movie.” That opportunity arrived with the script for Fruitvale Station, which led to a meeting with Ryan Coogler. “Ryan told me he thought I was a movie star,” said Jordan. “He wanted the world to see it.”
That film, which won critical acclaim, launched a lasting partnership between Jordan and Coogler, leading to major successes like Creed, Black Panther, and now Sinners. According to Jordan’s manager, Phillip Sun, the strategy has never been about fitting a mold. “Mike deserves to be a leading man, period. He happens to be a Black leading man, but we chased everything, not just roles written for a specific type.”
Jordan's selective public presence and Washington’s mentorship continue to shape his trajectory — one carefully crafted step at a time. Washington even directed him in 2021’s A Journal for Jordan, marking another milestone in a career built not just on talent, but on intention.
Source: Variety Magazine
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