MICHAEL B. Jordan’s journey to the Oscars almost looked very different.
According to longtime friend and former The Wire co-star JD Williams, Jordan worried he might never work again after his character Wallace was killed off during the first season of the hit HBO drama when he was just 15.
Williams, who played Bodie on the series, said the young actor was shaken by the sudden end of his breakout role because cast members only received scripts shortly before filming.
He recalled telling Jordan that fans would remember Wallace and start looking for the actor behind the character, according to The Sun.
That prediction clearly came true. Years later, Jordan is now Academy Awards Best Actor winner for Sinners, where he plays twin brothers Elijah and Elias.
The film has become a major awards-season force, earning a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Ryan Coogler.
Williams praised Jordan’s growth over the years, calling him an organic performer with a deep understanding of the business. He also credited Jordan’s creative partnership with Coogler as a key reason the actor has reached a new level in his career.
After early roles in projects like Hardball and The Wire, Jordan went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars through films including Creed and Black Panther.
Now, with Sinners putting him in the centrE of the awards conversation, the actor who once feared his career was over is closer than ever to achieving the Oscar dream he had as a teenager.