How Chadwick Boseman Helped Michael B. Jordan “Lock In” for Sinners
There’s no denying that Ryan Coogler’sSinners created a special lane of its own to become one of the best movies of 2025. Not only did the movie greatly defy expectations at the box office and become one of the best-reviewed films of the year, but it's also making a great run during award season, recently taking home four Critics' Choice Awards.
Part of what made Sinners so phenomenal was the brilliant performance of Michael B. Jordan. He masterfully portrayed twins Stack and Smoke with two unique identities, and if you want to get technical, he played a third character, seeing how Stack became a vampire. And as difficult as it was for Jordan to get these characterizations just right on screen, according to him, what he felt truly challenging was nailing down a southern accent. Thankfully for him, he relied on the wisdom from his Black Panther co-star and friend, the dearly departed Chadwick Boseman.
The Memory of Chadwick Boseman Motivated Michael B. Jordan for ‘Sinners’
During a sitdown with CBS Sunday Morning, interviewer Tracy Smith brings up the fact that Coogler mentioned how Boseman’s death “messed everybody up,” but may have messed Jordan “up the most.” When she then asks Jordan to elaborate on what he thinks Coogler meant, a slightly shaken Jordan begins talking about his special relationship with Boseman and his desire to have had more time with him.
Eventually, Jordan brings the conversation back to Sinners and how challenging it was for him stay in a Southern dialect for the entirety of the film. It wasn’t until Coogler challenged Jordan to consider “what would Chad do in the situation” that Jordan was able to “lock in” to the accent and roles. Jordan claims nothing else needed to be said after that, because he recounts earlier how, when Boseman played T'Challa in Black Panther, “he [Boseman] never broke, he always kept his accent, when he was at home, when he was on set, he always had it.”
So in a sense, Jordan carried his friend with him on Sinners. He notes that taking Coogler’s advice and thinking about Boseman “made a difference” for him.
Michael B. Jordan reflects on the lasting impact of Chadwick Boseman’s death and recalls a moment on the @SinnersMovie set with director Ryan Coogler that helped him lock down the southern accents for the characters of Smoke and Stack.
— CBS Sunday Morning ???? (@CBSSunday) January 6, 2026
Looking back on that experience, Jordan… pic.twitter.com/PHVLATRvTb
What’s next for Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler?
Looking ahead for both Jordan and Coogler, it appears they have no plans of slowing down. In addition to finishing their award show run for Sinners, Jordan is currently eyeing The Thomas Crown Affairremake and the sequel to I Am Legend with Will Smith. Coogler, on the other hand, is focused on the highly anticipated Black Panther 3 film and the reboot of The X-Files.