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Denzel Washington is renowned for his unmatched talent and dedication to his craft. The Training Day star’s name and reputation carry such weight in Hollywood that he can singlehandedly make or break a franchise. Working with Denzel is often a top aspiration for many seasoned actors in Hollywood and around the world.
People’s Sexiest Man Alive 2020, Michael B. Jordan, is one of the few Hollywood actors who have had the enviable opportunity of working alongside Denzel Washington. After clamoring to work with the iconic actor and director for over a decade, Jordan finally got his chance in 2021 when he was offered the lead role in the film A Journal For Jordan.
Here’s what the Creed star had to say about working with Denzel in the highly acclaimed drama.
Michael B. Jordan and Denzel Washington Worked Together In A Journal For Jordan
Michael B. Jordan and Denzel Washington’s paths intersected on the set of A Journal for Jordan, with Jordan taking on the role of 1st Sergeant Charles Monroe King and Denzel serving as director and co-producer.
In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jordan disclosed that working with Denzel factored heavily into his decision to take on the role.
“You have a phenomenal talent and icon, Denzel Washington, as our leader and director. You know it was a dream to always work with him so to be able to have him direct me in this film was extremely important and made a big difference in making the decision to play the role.”
The Creed star also confessed, “I think the opportunity to work with one of my mentors and somebody that I idolized, to be able to learn from him and be directed by him, was priceless. And then when I read the book and I found out more about the story, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity because I'd never done a movie like this before either.”
How Did Michael B. Jordan Feel About Being Directed By Denzel In A Journal For Jordan?
Denzel Washington’s acting and directorial abilities have earned him an outstanding reputation in Hollywood. Like many actors, Michael B. Jordan had been clamoring for an opportunity to work with Denzel Washington for a long time.
The Black Panther star disclosed to Blackprint, “I always wanted to work with [Denzel], didn’t know how exactly. I think my version of that would've been us acting together in a movie... As an actor, I always wondered what his process was going to be like. Like 'Damn I wonder how the greatest in the world prepares for a role? Or how does he rehearse?'"
Jordan also gushed over his experience working with Denzel on the film saying, "It was incredible… To be able to finally get a chance to break down a script with him, break down a character, go through his prep process... it's something I'll take with me for the rest of my life."
Jordan also commented on Denzel’s directorial abilities in his interview with Entertainment Weekly saying, “Being directed by Denzel, it's like you had a master class at everything. He shows up every day to work to give it his all. He leaves with nothing in the tank, so you've got to match that energy and that drive.”
How Working With Denzel Washington Prepared Michael B. Jordan For Creed III
While filming A Journal for Jordan, Michael B. Jordan was also preparing to reprise his role as Creed in Creed III. Working with an iconic director like Denzel went a long way in preparing him to make his directorial debut in the upcoming sports drama.
Jordan made certain to gather as much insight as he could from Denzel by “asking him a s—t ton of questions, and observing how he runs a set, how he communicates with department heads, and just the process of what to look for and what to expect on a day-to-day grind.”
In his interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jordan shared his thoughts on how working with Denzel impacted his directorial role in Creed III. According to Jordan, A Journal for Jordan was “definitely the right project for [him] to do right before [Creed III].”
The Just Mercy star also disclosed, “[Working with Denzel] definitely pushed me to do more. That was an incredible experience. Character development, breaking down characters, just getting to the micro of everything, being as specific as possible. It raised my game in a lot of ways, so I'm extremely grateful for that process.”