Why Black Panther Sent Michael B. Jordan to Therapy
Michael B. Jordan says embodying Erik Killmonger in Black Panther left a psychological hangover that outlasted the shoot — and sent him to therapy to break the spell. The star admits the role’s emotional weight hit harder than he expected.
Michael B. Jordan says playing Erik Killmonger in Black Panther didn’t just end when the cameras stopped. The headspace stuck around long enough that he had to actively shake it off — with therapy. He broke it all down on CBS Sunday Morning, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense if you remember how intense that character is.
"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 explained that he was still figuring out how to separate himself from a heavy role like that, and that the decompression part is a learned skill. He also talked through why Killmonger gets under your skin: the guy is built on trauma, abandonment, and a lifetime of feeling like every system failed him. That anger isn’t abstract — it’s earned — and Jordan leaned all the way into it to make the character work.
How deep he went to play Killmonger
This wasn’t a casual performance for him. Jordan said he pulled back from his own family while shooting, isolating himself to mirror Killmonger’s mindset. It was a choice that made the character more believable, but also made it harder to turn the switch off when production wrapped.
Quick refresher on Killmonger’s story
In Black Panther (2018), Erik Killmonger is a former Navy SEAL who returns to Wakanda to challenge T'Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman) for the throne. His mission isn’t random revenge: years earlier, King T'Chaka executed Killmonger’s father for smuggling vibranium out of Wakanda. That loss, and everything it represents, is what drives him.
Therapy turned into something bigger
Jordan said the sessions became more than post-role cleanup — they turned into a broader check-in on who he is and how he communicates. He’s big on the idea that talking things through matters, and that it’s not just useful but necessary, especially for men. He also called acting a solo journey that demands personal reflection, and made it clear he’s not embarrassed about getting help — he’s proud of it. As for why the role appealed to him in the first place, he liked the complexity: playing in that gray area where your character’s moral compass isn’t pinned to north is part of the draw.
- He went to therapy after Black Panther to decompress from playing Killmonger.
- Interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning, he said he was still learning how to step back from intense roles.
- He immersed himself by isolating from family to match Killmonger’s mindset.
- Killmonger’s psychology: shaped by trauma, abandonment, and systemic failure.
- Character backstory: former Navy SEAL, challenges T'Challa after his father’s execution by King T'Chaka for smuggling vibranium.
- Therapy became ongoing self-discovery and helped him communicate better.
- He says therapy is necessary — particularly for men — and he’s proud he did it.
- Part of the appeal of Killmonger was the freedom to blur moral lines.