With Ryan Coogler's BLACK PANTHER set to prowl into theaters in February of next year, fans of the diplomatic superhero are anxious to see what Michael B. Jordan will bring to the role of the movie's villain, Killmonger. In the past, Jordan has expressed that the character "took him to a dark place," and that Killmonger may have left a lasting scar on his own psyche. In hearing those words, one can't help but recall Heath Ledger's personal struggles when preparing for the role of The Joker in Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT. Coincidentally enough, Jordan revealed to Empire that he shares something of a kinship with Ledger's Joker, and that his Killmonger performance was inspired by the late actors legendary role as the Clown Prince of Crime.
“You see performances as an actor, and as a fan – you look at Heath Ledger’s performance, say, in The Dark Knight, and it’s like, 'Wow,'" Jordan told Empire. "I want to try to get something like that. You want Michael Fassbender’s Magneto. Just trying to find my place amongst those roles, and strive for that, even if I don’t make it."
From what I've read, Killmonger is a tyrannical sort who'd rather destroy people than build them up. If Jordan has indeed been looking to Ledger's Joker for inspiration on how to watch the world burn, he could not have chosen a more apt teacher in the art of destruction. It should be interesting to see how Jordan blends his own interpretation of the Killmonger character with that of Batman's most notorious nemesis. Obviously, Jordan will be looking to make the role his own, though I must admit that I'll be watching him rather closely for any similarities to Harley Quinn's Puddin'.
BLACK PANTHER will arrive in theaters come February 16th, 2018.
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