Michael B. Jordan thinks “it might be too early” to discuss a ‘Sinners’ sequel. The film has already generated significant buzz among horror fans and critics alike, with many praising its unique take on the genre.
The 38-year-old actor stars in director Ryan Coogler’s horror flick as identical twin brothers Smoke and Stack, though has insisted now is not the time to start thinking about what comes next. Their collaboration marks the fourth project between Jordan and Coogler, following “Fruitvale Station,” “Creed,” and “Black Panther.”
“Early in the count for that one, man, but it is a testament to the characters in the world Ryan created,” Jordan said, speaking about a possible sequel with Deadline. “The world that exists in the history of Black American culture and the Deep South. When you watch good movies, you want to see where they’re going next, and curious what happened before. And we want to see how they got there. To me, what you said means we made something that will resonate with people, but it might be too early to get into all that.” The film has been praised for its exploration of Southern Gothic themes.
The ‘Creed’ star added Coogler was going to be “kicking his shoes off” before embarking on his next project, while he found portraying the twin brothers was “such a mountain to climb”. The duo’s creative partnership has resulted in several critically acclaimed films.
“I know Ryan’s kicking his shoes off, maybe just for a second, before he jumps into the next big thing that he’s got cooking,” he said. “This twin stuff, man, it was such a mountain to climb. For me, the technical aspect of shooting, this was pretty intense as well. And kudos to this credible cast.” The film utilized innovative filming techniques to create the illusion of Jordan playing opposite himself.
‘Sinners’ – which also stars Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell and Wunmi Mosaku – follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack as they return to their Mississippi hometown to escape their troubled past and start afresh, only to find a darker threat lurking, ready to pull them back in. The film draws upon rich cultural traditions and folklore from the American South.
Reflecting on playing two characters, Jordan explained Smoke and Stack made up two halves of a brain, though still had their own separate identities. This duality became a central theme throughout the film’s narrative.
“We loved that idea and tried to establish that where we could. They hated being apart from each other,” he said. “The twins didn’t like separating, so we wanted to show them separating in this movie for a minute. And the difference between the two, how the world reacts to them. Their reputation and legend was loud and went far, but also how they assess situations and how they handle them is a bit different.” Jordan’s performance has been highlighted by critics for its depth and nuance.
The ‘Black Panther’ star added playing twin brothers was “a long-winding layered process”, and he had met with some real identical twins to ensure his portrayal of Smoke and Stack felt genuine. This method acting approach has become characteristic of Jordan’s commitment to his craft.
“Being able to talk to other identical twins and get a baseline and see what was the common denominator in a lot of their dynamics growing up as kids was important,” he said. “You have some thick as thieves, you have some that wanted to be different, that didn’t want to be a twin at one point of their childhood. Maybe they’re not as close as Smoke and Stack in their adult lives. Others still share the same email address or have the same cell phone or same bank account, and live in the same place. Finding out where Smjordanoke and Stack fall into that was important to me.” The research paid off in creating authentic and compelling characters.
The film represents Coogler‘s first venture into the horror genre, expanding his repertoire as a filmmaker known for tackling diverse subjects and styles. The creative team spent months developing the unique visual language of the film to establish its distinctive atmosphere.
Despite Jordan’s reluctance to discuss sequel possibilities, fans have already begun speculating about potential storylines that could further explore the rich world established in ‘Sinners.’ The film’s open-ended conclusion has left room for continuation while still delivering a satisfying standalone story.
