Michael B. Jordan recently opened up about his dual roles in the film Sinners during an interview with Jesse Plemons for Variety’s Actors on Actors series. In the film, Jordan portrays the Smokestack twin brothers, who return to their hometown only to confront a supernatural evil that challenges their connection.
During the conversation, Plemons praised the film after watching it on a flight from Venice to Telluride, stating he was “blown away” by the performances. He inquired about the preparation process for Jordan, knowing that he was stepping into the shoes of two distinct characters. Jordan admitted that taking on the roles of identical twins brought a “lot of nerves.” He shared his approach to creating individuality for each brother, stating, “Lemme just focus on building out from their childhood trauma forward. How did that kind of manifest in each brother differently?”
Jordan explained that one twin is more internal and reserved about his pain, while the other brother masks his inner struggles with charisma and a smile. “Understanding that those are two sides of me also helped,” he noted.
Character Development Through Style
The actor also detailed how wardrobe choices played a significant role in defining the twins. For the more angsty character, Stack, Jordan opted for shoes that were too small to reflect his impatience and fidgety nature. Conversely, for Smoke, the other twin, he wore shoes that were a size too big, representing his more subdued demeanor. “It all started to take shape, with Ryan Coogler being the perfect North Star for where the story’s going,” Jordan remarked, highlighting the director’s influence on his character development.
Describing the filming process as “organized chaos,” Jordan emphasized the challenges artists face with limited time. He would alternate between roles, completing a few takes as each brother before retreating to his trailer for further character introspection. Music played a pivotal role in this process. Jordan mentioned, “Music was really helpful to listen to as I took off a piece of clothing and put another one on.” He also shared that changing his gold caps impacted his speech, further aiding in embodying each character. “You’re listening to the music and going through key phrases, running myself through that brother’s perspective of what got them to that day,” he reminisced.
Jordan’s reflections on his work in Sinners reveal not just the complexity of playing dual roles, but also the deep understanding required to convincingly portray characters shaped by their pasts. As audiences anticipate the release of the film, Jordan’s insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the artistry behind his performances.
