Michael B. Jordan Speaks On Being Called A Young Denzel…With Denzel

Energy is a funny thing. Almost magical when you think about it.  Motion is energy and that movement has the potential to instill other bodies with energy, as well.  

For example, the incredible amount of energy that actor Denzel Washington has put into his career has earned him a place on the top levels on the ladder of leading male actors in Hollywood.  With a catalog of movies the likes of which the world would be worse off without, Washington has inspired as much as he has educated, amused and reflected the positive aspects of negritude on the stage, screen, and television.
Recently, Washington sat down with the New York Times and burgeoning superstar actor Michael B. Jordan.  Washington has served as a mentor to up and coming leading males in Hollywood.  But it would seem Washington’s hand has been more direct in guiding these young men than had previously been known.

Recently, The Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman told a reporter how Denzel Washington paid for his tuition to Oxford University. That is indeed a direct though covert example of how Washington has guided one of our favorite actors. With Jordan, who starred in The Black Panther as the beloved villain Erik Killmonger.

It was a big highlight, Michael B. Jordan said, then looked down shyly into his lap when questioned about how he felt when his Fruitvale Station role was likened to a young Denzel Washington. It couldn’t have helped that Washington was sitting next to him.
When someone says youre like your idol, Mr. Jordan said, Its like: Really? You see that in me? Id only done that one movie. But then I started using it as motivation, he said. I wanted to pop up on Denzels radar. Hes the O.G. If I could get recognition from him, I know Im going down the right path, you know?

Finally, Mr. Washington broke in with a booming laugh: And here we are, Mike! Looks like its working out already, he said.

PHILIP GALANES: If Mike reminds people of a young Denzel, who did young Denzel remind people of?

DENZEL WASHINGTON:

I never saw it that way. I never even thought about movie stars. My goal was to be on Broadway, to earn $650 a week. My hero was James Earl Jones. And I came to acting green. I was taking pre-law courses, then journalism courses. Then I took an acting class and got bit by the bug. So I came down to Lincoln Center and saw plays and stage actors.

THE EQUALIZER 2 – Official Trailer (HD)

Not all enemies are created equal. Watch #TheEqualizer2 new trailer now and don’t miss Denzel back in action July 20th. Subscribe to Sony Pictures for exclusive content: http://bit.ly/SonyPicsSubscribe Follow EQ2 on social: https://www.facebook.com/TheEqualizerMovie https://www.instagram.com/theequalizermovie/ https://twitter.com/theequalizer Denzel Washington returns to one of his signature roles in the first sequel of his career.

Denzel will hit the big screen once more this summer in Equalizer 2. Meanwhile, we can see Michael B Jordan in the highly-anticipated HBO movie Fahrenheit 451.  

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