Michael B. Jordan Reveals How He Kept His Black Panther 2 Cameo Secret

Michael B. Jordan reveals how he was able to keep his Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cameo a secret. Following Chadwick Boseman’s death, The Black Panther sequel addresses the loss of King T’Challa and rising international tensions as countries seek to get their hands on Wakanda’s vibranium resources. The film has garnered critical acclaim — with Angela Bassett’s performance as Queen Ramonda a frontrunner in the Oscar race for Best Supporting Actress — and grossed over $840 million at the box office. Widely lauded as an ambitious and emotionally rewarding addition to the MCU, Wakanda Forever is marked as the final film to close out Phase 4 of the MCU.

Jordan shares on The Tonight Show how exactly he kept his Black Panther 2 cameo a secret.

Acknowledging the heaviness of production due to Boseman’s loss, Jordan reveals that “just trying to power through” was the focus at hand. In addressing how he kept his guest return as Killmonger under wraps, he admits that the process was a “really tough thing.” He discloses that he had to wear hats and hoodies to hide his growing hair whenever traveling; additionally, he had to fly on private jets in order to avoid any speculation about his appearance. Check out Jordan’s full account below:

It’s tough, you know? I think this time around, you know, because we lost our brother Chadwick, rest in peace Chadwick Boseman — and it was so much weight and so much just trying to power through. And Ryan Coogler had such a tremendous task in front of him to evolve the script and the story in a way that still kind of honored Chadwick but move the franchise forward as well. So for me to be able to come back, and I really had to keep it under wraps, I had to grow my hair out. You know, I got the locks back in and stuff like that. And I’m traveling a lot of places, so I’ve got to wear a hat, a hoodie, fly private, which isn’t too bad of a thing. But being able to keep it under wraps was really a tough thing.

Why Bringing Back Killmonger In The Ancestral Plane Was An Inspired Choice

Killmonger pointing at Black Panther before battle.

Not only did Jordan’s Killmonger cameo add the necessary shock value to the film, but it also raised the stakes of Wakanda Forever’s story. When Shuri (Letitia Wright) ingests the heart-shaped herb to transition into becoming the next Black Panther, she expects to see a vision of her mother, father, or brother. Instead, she disconcertingly encounters Killmonger, who urges her to seek revenge. Rather than perhaps providing her with a more objective type of guidance, Shuri’s encounter is more of a reflection of where she is emotionally and mentally. Shuri spends much of the film not allowing herself to grieve, in addition to being angry at both herself and the world. Killmonger’s appearance in the ancestral plane forces her to be truthful with herself. That truth does end up spurring unhealthy actions — namely going to war against Talokan to avenge Ramonda’s death.

Could Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger Return To The MCU Again?

Killmonger was a well-received villain, partially due to Jordan’s performance, but largely because of what he stood for. Though his methods were harmful, his philosophy that Wakanda should share its rare resources with struggling Black populations made him a more complex character. At the end of Black Panther, T’Challa is grappling with the questions that Killmonger raised and attempting to bring about change. With the revelation in the sequel that Namor’s Talokan also has access to vibranium and that vibranium detectors now exist, Killmonger’s questions are all the more pertinent to the franchise. The possibilities offered by the multiverse are just kicking off, so anything goes — including another appearance by Jordan’s Killmonger, albeit from a different timeline.

Jordan’s reprisal of his Black Panther role is one of many reasons that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hit home for many viewers. He reminds us of the weight of the issues that Wakanda is dealing with, but is also crucial to Shuri’s arc as she takes on her brother’s mantle and moves on as the only member of her immediate family left. Where Black Panther will go from here remains to be seen, but the impending start of Phase 5 — beginning with Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania is much anticipated. During the waiting period, Jordan enthusiasts can look forward to his directorial debut Creed III, which Black Panther's Ryan Coogler also helped write and produce.

Next: Angela Bassett's Oscar Nomination Breaks An MCU Trend - But Will She Win?

Source: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon