Denzel Washington Warned Michael B. Jordan That Overexposure Hurts Movie Stars: ‘Why Pay to See You on a Weekend if They See You All Week For Free?’

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Michael B. Jordan has once again demonstrated his cinematic prowess with the unveiling of Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” this year. This captivating vampire tale has amassed an impressive $350 million (and still climbing) at global box offices, positioning it among the most successful original films following the pandemic. In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Jordan shared that he purposefully avoids sharing much about his personal life on social media or in interviews to “generate interest” as a leading man in Hollywood. The financial success of “Sinners” certainly suggests that this approach is paying off.

Jordan, who looks up to Denzel Washington as one of his major role models, revealed in an interview that Washington offered him professional guidance, urging him to limit his online presence to avoid becoming too visible. Washington phrased it directly by questioning Jordan: “Why should they pay to watch you on weekends if they can see you every day for free?

Jordan’s ambition has always been to achieve movie stardom ever since he switched from television to films. While he had roles in movies such as “Hardball” as a youngster, it was his supporting roles on TV shows like “The Wire” and “Friday Night Lights” that truly caught people’s attention and made him an actor worth keeping an eye on.

12 years ago, Jordan expressed deep uncertainty about his career path. “Was I destined for TV acting?” he wondered, “Where was I headed?” He yearned for an opportunity to prove himself, and that’s when he decided, “I simply want an independent film. If I can carry a movie as the lead, if I can showcase my abilities in this role, then I’ll know.

The screenplay for “Fruitvale Station” eventually reached Jordan, leading to a meeting being arranged with the film’s director, Ryan Coogler. This encounter proved transformative as Ryan expressed his belief in my potential as a movie star and acknowledged my acting talents. He was determined to demonstrate this to the world by making the movie with me.

The script for “Fruitvale Station” found its way to Jordan, resulting in a meeting being scheduled with director Ryan Coogler. This encounter proved pivotal as Ryan expressed his conviction that I had star quality and was an exceptional actor. He aimed to prove this to the world by creating the film alongside me.

The movie ‘Fruitvale Station’ received widespread acclaim and kick-started the cinematic journeys of Jordan and Coogler. They later collaborated to produce hit films like ‘Creed’ and ‘Black Panther’, and continued their successful partnership with the original ‘Sinners’.

Phillip Sun, Mike’s manager, stated to New York Magazine that Mike deserves to be the main actor, full stop. It so happens that he is a Black leading man, but we didn’t focus on casting roles solely based on skin color. We pursued every opportunity.

Washington’s guidance has been crucial to Jordan, a person who does not have accounts on well-known social media sites such as X or TikTok. However, Jordan is active on Instagram, where he has garnered an impressive following of 25 million people, although he mainly posts during press tours for his movie ventures. Washington was the director of Jordan in the 2021 romantic drama “A Journal for Jordan.”

Jordan relies heavily on Washington’s counsel, as he does not maintain profiles on popular social media platforms like X or TikTok. Despite this, Jordan is present on Instagram, boasting a follower count of 25 million, but typically only posts during press events for his film projects. Washington directed Jordan in the 2021 romantic drama “A Journal for Jordan.

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2025-06-03 01:16