ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What can we expect fromA Journal for Jordan?
I know it’s coming around Christmas time.
It’s one of those movies that checks a lot of the boxes.
David Lee/Columbia Pictures
And be honest, truthful, and vulnerable with their story.
Hopefully we did that with this one.
What drew you to this movie?
Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams in ‘A Journal for Jordan.'.David Lee/Columbia Pictures
Honestly, the opportunity to work with Denzel.
OK. Yeah, yep.
I’m showing up."
Chanté Adams and Michael B. Jordan tell a true story in ‘A Journal for Jordan.'.David Lee/Columbia Pictures
Whatever it is, we gotta figure it out.
I was wondering too, did Denzel say what drew him to this project?
Because I was pleasantly surprised he directed this film too.
I think it’s a personal project.
You already mentioned you read the book.
Was that the main blueprint for this character?
What else did you do to prepare to play Charles?
I went to go train.
Went down to Fort Irwin.
Went through a little bit of bootcamp.
And talk to her about what that was like, falling in love.
“What was it like when you first met him?
What was it first like becoming a mother?”
Getting a chance to talk to Jordan as well.
But then, physically going through the transformation, living that life as long as I could.
All those things added up to the prep to step into this role.
[The ones] about how to treat a woman.
Knowing his wife was going to read it too, right?
You know what I’m saying?
But it was all those little things in there were good.
Chante brought Dana to life in a way where I caught myself watching sometimes in awe.
She’s really, really good.
And I think she just did an amazing job at just being present.
Getting back to Denzel Washington, what was it like being directed by him?
Did this project feel like it prepared you forCreed III?
Answering the third one last, it definitely prepared me forCreed III.
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.
So it definitely pushed me to do more.
That was an incredible experience.
It raised my game in a lot of ways, so I’m extremely grateful for that process.
Finally, what is your attraction to father/son legacy stories?
Because I see that as a throughline betweenCreed,Raising Dion, and this.
I think that there’s an importance of representation in fatherhood and leadership.
It’s been a stereotype that’s been floating around for a long time.
There’s fathers and daughters that are there as well, that I think could be highlighted as well.
Things of that nature.
A Journal For Jordancomes out in limited release Dec. 10 ahead of a wide release Dec. 22.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
