Michael B. Jordan is fast becoming one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood. The 28-year-old actor is establishing a very solid career resume, and after 2015 he might have the credentials to be considered an A-lister.
Jordan has been involved with acting since his early years. He was 15 years of age when he got his first big break on HBO’s critically acclaimed series, The Wire. His stint on the show only lasted 13 episodes, but his portrayal of Wallace left many in awe, as he received critical acclaim from fans and critics.
Jordan would go on to star in other television projects such as, Parenthood and Friday Night Lights. His big break in the film world came from the 2012 fighter pilot drama, Red Tails. The film centered around a crew of African-American pilots during World War II. Jordan played a supporting role, but garnered enough attention to receive more prominent work.
After his role in Red Tails, Jordan went on to star in Chronicle, and perhaps his most notable role to date, Fruitvale Station. And while those two films proved Jordan could take on a serious role with his acting, his next movie, That Awkward Moment, proved he could take on comedy as well.
That brings us to the present day, and Michael B. Jordan is one of the industries most sought after young actors. He has a very healthy slate of films lined up in 2015. The first of which is the highly anticipated Fantastic Four re-make, where Jordan takes on the part of Johhny Blaze/The Human Torch.
The casting of Jordan in this role has stirred a debate amongst many hardcore comic book fans, as some think Blaze’s blond hair and blue eye look shouldn’t be replaced in favor of Jordan, a black man. The actor took the time to write to EW.com about the change, and how he is dealing with the fans backlash.
“It used to bother me, but it doesn’t anymore. I can see everybody’s perspective, and I know I can’t ask the audience to forget 50 years of comic books. But the world is a little more diverse in 2015 than when the Fantastic Four comic first came out in 1961.”
The film is getting a ton of press, and will undoubtedly be a major hit for 20th Century Fox, and Michael B. Jordan. And for the latter it will carry momentum into another potential blockbuster in 2015, Creed.
The movie is a semi-sequel to the beloved Rocky franchise. In the film, Jordan plays Adonis Johnson, the son of Apollo Creed, one of Rocky Balboa’s fiercest opponents and dearest friends. The film follows Johnson’s rise from an unproven fighter to champion, almost like a Rocky for the new generation.
It’s a tough task to revive a storied franchise like Rocky. However, Jordan has proved throughout his young career that he is capable of taking on any role.
Whether it be The Human Torch or a Tuskegee Airman, there is something special about Jordan. It’s just a matter of time before he joins an elite class of Hollywood a-Lister’s.