Michael B Jordan joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2018, when he starred as supervillain Erik Killmonger in Black Panther.
And the Emmy nominee is preparing to spearhead another potentially iconic superhero movie, this time with DC.
He’s signed on to produce the Static Shock movie through his Warner Bros-based production banner Outlier Society, joining producer Reginald Hudlin, after the project was announced in August at the DC FanDome event.
Mr. Producer: Michael B Jordan has signed on to produce the Static Shock movie through his Warner Bros-based production banner Outlier Society (pictured in February, 2020)
The 33-year-old told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I’m proud to be a part of building a new universe centered around Black superheroes; our community deserves that.
‘Outlier Society is committed to bringing to life diverse comic book content across all platforms and we are excited to partner with Reggie and Warner Bros on this initial step.’
The film poses an opportunity for Jordan, as it comes with the potential for world-building in the DC franchise, much as Black Panther did for the MCU.
It will center on Static, a Black superhero with the ability to manipulate electricity, whose self-titled comic book debuted in 1993, via Milestone Comics, which distributed through DC.
Dream team: He joins producer Reginald Hudlin, after the project was announced in August at the DC FanDome event
Black superheroes: The 33-year-old told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I’m proud to be a part of building a new universe centered around Black superheroes; our community deserves that’ (pictured in September, 2019)
Diverse content: He added: ‘Outlier Society is committed to bringing to life diverse comic book content across all platforms and we are excited to partner with Reggie and Warner Bros on this initial step’ (pictured in February, 2020)
The now-shuttered comic book company was launched by Black writers and artists to create a more inclusive platform in the industry.
After Milestone closed, the character was incorporated into the DC Universe, becoming a member of the Teen Titans.
Static got his own animated series Static Shock, which premiered on the WB in 2000, offering a more child-appropriate version of the character.
Fans of the CW superhero show Black Lightning have also been clamoring for a Static Shock appearance, although it’s a widely held misconception that the characters are related.
Series lead Cress Williams addressed the idea to Metro in 2018: ‘That would be cool! I don’t want anybody to get too excited. What I’m saying right now is not founded on any info. It’s really just my creative idea. I think it would be a cool idea at some point.’
Page-turner: It will center on Static, a Black superhero with the ability to manipulate electricity, whose self-titled comic book debuted in 1993, via the Black-led Milestone Comics, which distributed through DC
Cartoon form: Static got his own animated series Static Shock, which premiered on the WB in 2000, offering a more child-appropriate version of the character
Possible cameo: Fans of the CW superhero show Black Lightning have also been clamoring for a Static Shock appearance, and star Cress Williams said: ‘That would be cool! I don’t want anybody to get too excited’
Leading man: Hudlin was previously set to create a live-action Static Shock series in 2014, in which they were eyeing Jaden Smith for the hero (whose alter ego is Virgil Hawkins) (pictured in August, 2020)
Hudlin was previously set to create a live-action Static Shock series in 2014, in which they were eyeing Jaden Smith for the hero (whose alter ego is Virgil Hawkins).
With the producer back onboard for the movie, it’s worth hoping that Smith could don the blue and yellow costume.
In addition to the movie, DC is relaunching Milestone with Hudlin as a partner, writing a brand new digital comic series for the character, launching in February.
There will also be a Static Shock graphic novel, also written by Hudlin, with art by Kyle Baker.
True story: Jordan most recently produced last year’s Just Mercy, in which he starred with Jamie Foxx, telling the true story of civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson’s fight to free a wrongly accused prisoner on death row
Fighting for justice: He delivered a toast last month at the TIME100 special on ABC, where he said he wants his work ‘to be part of justice as a whole’ (pictured in June, 2020)
Jordan most recently produced last year’s Just Mercy, in which he starred with Jamie Foxx, telling the true story of civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson’s fight to free a wrongly accused prisoner on death row.
He delivered a toast last month at the TIME100 special on ABC, where he said he wants his work ‘to be part of justice as a whole.’
The Creed star added: ‘When you see these glimpses of strength and solidarity, I think it just makes me want to be better; it makes me want to work harder.
‘If I can do a bit of that hard work—if I can afford them more opportunity so they can stand on my shoulders and be a little bit taller—I think I’m doing my job.’
Jordan is also striving for social justice outside of his work, dropping a thirst trap this week on Instagram, urging his 14.9million Instagram followers to ‘vote early’ and providing them with helpful resources.
Voting is sexy: Jordan is also striving for social justice outside of his work, dropping a thirst trap this week on Instagram , urging his 14.9million Instagram followers to ‘vote early’