Michael B. Jordan on 'My Next Guest' with David Letterman: A Life Shaped by Curiosity, Craft, and Quiet Ambition
From 'Hardball' to his next passion project, Season 6 kicks off with a legend in the making
Michael B. Jordan doesn’t treat success like a destination—he treats it like a responsibility. On My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, two industry veterans strip the glitz and glam down to a conversation amongst colleagues with light banter, a round of darts, and with the ease of old friends while going down memory lane—from Jordan’s humble beginnings to his next big project.
There’s a moment in Jordan’s interview—a darts game in a London bar—that feels like a metaphor for Jordan’s entire career: fun without frivolity and intention without force. As the first episode of season 6, Letterman takes a step back to admire all that is Michael B. Jordan; meeting the man behind the roles and underneath the success. During this interview, Jordan delivers just as he portrays every role: with authenticity and honesty.
“Fear didn’t disappear—it evolved. It turned into confidence.”
It is no secret that Jordan’s beginnings in Newark were the catalyst to his career. Getting his first real start in the film Hardball (2001), his raw talent became visible enough to land him his first breakout role as Wallace on the now critically acclaimed series The Wire (2002)—Jordan stating “the right people watched me.” When asked by Letterman how he was able to channel so much into that character without ever having experienced much life at the age of 15, Jordan answers plainly “I’m imitating my environment.” His surroundings—though his parents worked hard to ensure he didn’t feel as though he lacked anything growing up—didn’t coddle. The life he saw around him demanded he remain flexible, resilient, and present. And like many inner city kids with a lack of resources to hone their artistic crafts, Jordan’s school of acting was by way of his environment.
But one does not continue in the grueling industry without a mentor to guide them and to push them forward when they fear they can’t grow beyond the here and the now. Jordan credits a conversation with Idris Elba and Dominic West, after his final scenes in The Wire, to making him truly believe he could go far. He had the talent, he had the discipline. Now he just needed the mental fortitude.
But no phase of Jordan’s career has been as transformative as his transition from television to film. There’s this beautifully unguarded moment that he shares with Letterman, stating that he was “terrified…but it was healthy fear and it evolved into fortified confidence.” This healthy fear came when he teamed up for the first time with, now brother, Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station (2013), marking both Coogler’s directorial debut and Jordan’s career as a leading man—the beginning of one of the most creative partnerships in modern film history.
“Ryan Coogler was the first director who wrote something specifically for me. That changed everything.”
Everything comes full circle, not only with his connection with Ryan Coogler but also with his connection to the late Chadwick Boseman and their work on Black Panther (2018)—a massive cultural movement in the film industry and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The friendship that quickly forged itself into a “Big 3” lent its beauty, brotherhood, and love into the heart of the story that is Black Panther—becoming the first film in the MCU to be nominated for an Oscar and the first to win any Oscars, making it a landmark moment for the franchise and superhero film representation on major awards stages.
But the connection with Boseman didn’t begin there. During Jordan’s early acting stage, he played the role of Reggie Montgomery on All My Children, a role that was initially portrayed by Boseman. Later in his conversation, discussing Boseman’s powerful portrayal of Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013), Jordan also reflects on how he auditioned for the role as well; another layer of divine connection that he holds near. So when it came to Black Panther, in an emotionally unguarded moment, Jordan smiles and says “I wish I had more time with him.” His smile doesn’t feel like sadness. It’s a smile that feels like gratitude and love.
So what is next for the Box Office, hitmaking actor? Michael B. Jordan has been in London during pre-production for his passion project of 13 years—a reimagining of the 1968 classic film The Thomas Crown Affair, written by Alan R. Trustman. In his film, coming 2027, Jordan is not only starring in it but directing, a follow-up to his directorial debut, Creed III (2023). As he spoke with Letterman about his aspirations to continue directing he joked that it’s the logical next step as an actor because “we get bored.” But nothing about Jordan’s career nor his dedication screams bored. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Jordan continues to prove that he finds real joy in his craft and in building the next phase beyond being the star in front of the camera.
From a young kid going with his mom to her doctor’s appointments to one of the most sought after talents in Hollywood, Jordan remains connected to his roots as just a man from Newark trying to be good in a cruel world—a human who measures his success by the life he made, living up to the “B” in his name: Bakari, “of noble promise.” And in true Michael B. Jordan fashion, he works diligently and with profound discipline to keep that promise.
Season 6 of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction is available to stream now on Netflix. Additional guests include MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) in episode 2 and Jason Bateman in episode 3. Check out the trailer below.