Actor Michael B Jordan spoke to his community before deciding to play a figure of authority in Fahrenheit 451

Initially you were not interested in the role and the project, Fahrenheit 451. What made you say yes?

I wasn’t interested in playing a figure of authority. With what was going on around the world with the police and my community, as a black man, I didn’t want to play somebody who was an oppressor. I just didn’t want that in my head. It was something that I wasn’t interested in playing, a firefighter that was going around burning books. That kind of character just didn’t seem right because I played Oscar Grant and I was playing characters that meant so much to my community. But after sitting down with the director Ramin and knowing Michael Shannon was going to be a part of it and understanding their vision, the kind of themes and messages that he wanted to send through the movie, I was fine. Then I talked to my agents, talked to my mom, dad, friends and even people around me. That’s how I made the decision. I make decisions through my community. I didn’t want people to see me dying in my roles as it has been.

What do you think about the film  in today’s context?

I mean, for a book that was written around 60 years ago, it could have been written last year. For me, to be a part of this story that is so important today. Concepts of free thought, choice, media control and anti-intellectuals, it is controlling us so much. So for me to play a character that challenges these ideas was important and sends a positive message. And working with HBO, co-producing it with my own company and working with Michael Shannon, I checked off all the boxes.

Ramin Bahrani (director) said that in your first meeting, you showed up in the character of Killmonger?

Yes, I was in the middle of production of Black Panther when we had that meeting and I was locked in the character. It was a heavy role for me to play and I literally just forgot. I saw the look on his face of how he was looking at me, it was a little intimidating and I remember I had my gold fronts on. So I took them out and I came down a little bit and we had a good meeting.

Do people still yell at you, “Wakanda forever?”

Yes. (laughs) Yes, they do. But they don’t understand. I’m not from Wakanda, technically, so — no, that’s Chadwick. That’s a Chadwick thing. So, like, when they say, “Wakanda forever,” low key, I’m still in the character. I’m like “Nah, that ain’t me.” (laughs) I don’t do it back to them. That’s not my thing.

I read that you didn’t really have a social life during Black Panther because you were drinking a gallon and a half of water, so you had to pee all the time.

Yes, that’s not fun. Especially in the middle of a night. You’re trying to sleep, you have to wake up, use the bathroom. You’re like, oh my god, I’m just going to hold it. And then it just doesn’t quite work out. We didn’t really go by hours but by sessions. So I worked out two to three times a day. Ate six times a day. It’s hard to go out to a club or even party when you’re like — oh wait, meal prep. We had to pop this thing in the microwave and eat food. So it is tough to socialise when you’ve got to get in shape like that. Yes, and work out three or four times a day too. It is so damn difficult. So as soon as I leave from here, I’m going to the gym. (Sigh)

(The film will premier today at 9 pm on Star Movies Select HD.)