Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan is transformed into one of DC’s greatest superheroes.
Michael B. Jordan is no stranger to supernatural universes, having already found his way into both major American superhero franchises. His initial debut in Marvel came from his role as Johnny Storm “Human Torch” in the 2015 Fantastic Four reboot. However, his most notable performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes from his role as T’Challa’s cousin and adversary Eric “Killmonger” Stevens in the 2018 film Black Panther. As Killmonger, we got to see a different side to the award-winning actor who normally portrays protagonist characters, such as Johnny Storm and Adonis “Donnie” Creed in the Creed movie franchise.
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Jordan’s extensive acting career spans over 20 years, and he has since transitioned into both directing and producing. His production company Outlier Society has brought several projects to life since its inception and is currently forging a path for more Black superhero projects in Hollywood. In 2019, he executively produced and starred in Raising Dion, a Netflix series based on Dennis Liu’s comic book and short film of the same name. The supernatural drama follows a single mother as she attempts to protect her superpowered son and investigate the mysterious circumstances of her late husband’s death. Within the same year, a first-look deal was cemented with Warner Bros., solidifying a place for him with the DC Extended Universe.
Last October, it was announced that he would be brought on as a producer for the live-action Static Shock movie, which is currently still in the works despite Warner Bros Discovery’s ongoing cancelation purge. His most anticipated producing project to date is his upcoming Black Superman limited series for HBO Max which was announced last July. Rumors have been floating since then that Jordan might also star in the upcoming Val-Zod Superman iteration in addition to serving as producer. New exclusive artwork envisions Jordan picking up the mantle of the iconic Superman character, bringing life to how he could embody this distinctive version within the series.
Michael B. Jordan’s Black Superman Series Is Different From JJ Abrams’ Upcoming Film
Details about Jordan’s upcoming Black Superman series are still forthcoming, but the project remains underway for now amidst the Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO Max merger that has taken Hollywood by storm this year. By the end of last year, the series – simply titled Val Zod – had brought on the talented television and feature writers Darnell Metayer & Josh Peters to pen the screenplay. DC Comics’ Val-Zod is an orphaned Black Kryptonian with powers who hails from the same planet as Kal-El.
Similarly to the original Superman, he finds refuge within his alternate universe on Earth 2 and receives asylum from his adopted family. Eventually, he is forced to confront an alternate brainwashed, perverted version of Superman called Brutaal. Through this confrontation, he steps into his birthright, becoming the second to adopt the mantle of Superman in the process. The writing pair is expected to have a fresh approach to Val-Zod’s origin story.
Related: Static Shock Movie Is Still in Works, Writer Assures
Jordan’s series is not the only Black Superman project currently in development. It was announced in February 2021 that JJ Abrams and Ta-Nehisi Coates were partnering up for a Black Superman film under Warner Bros. Initially, one would think there would be continuity concerns, however, Abrams’ film is following the familiar origin story of Kal-El/Clark Kent through a period piece and is reportedly separate from the DECU. The different Superman incarnations and origin stories ensure that each project will be distinguishable and uniquely their own, despite both featuring Black Supermans.
Jordan was also in consideration to play the Man of Steel for the upcoming Abrams film, but he quickly dispelled the rumors, although he was “flattered” to be considered for such a legendary role. Instead, Jordan praised DC Studios for their decision to tap Coates as the writer for the upcoming project. “It’s smart of DC to grab Ta-Nehisi to go ahead and adapt that project,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in an exclusive. “He’s incredibly talented. It’s going to be worth checking out. I’m flattered that people have me in that [Superman] conversation. It’s definitely a compliment, but I’m just watching on this one.”
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