Michael B. Jordan Details Needing Therapy After Playing Black Panther Villain Erik Killmonger

“Erik didn’t really know a lot of love. I think Erik didn’t experience that,” Michael explained. “He had a lot of betrayal, a lot of failed systems around him that shaped him and his anger and his frustration. And looking at history and how it would seem to always repeat itself, and how was he going to break that cycle.”

Though he nailed Killmonger’s nuanced view of the world—and ultimately, his relationship with Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa—Michael recognized he was still living in his character’s mindset after the film’s release.

“I think that spiraled into a bigger conversation and self-discovery of, ‘Okay, I think that’s something that’s necessary for people.’ Especially men,” he noted of thoughts after he started therapy. “I think it’s good for them to go and talk. That’s something I’m not ashamed of at all, and very proud of.”

The Creed star added, “It definitely helped me [try] to be a good communicator and a well-rounded person, inside and out.”

While Michael is grateful that he found himself again, he’ll always cherish his connection to the Marvel franchise and Chadwick. In fact, he honored his late costar—who died in 2020 from colon cancer—when he received a posthumous star on the Walk of Fame last November.

“That was special. I couldn't have planned it any better,” Michael told E! News of the heartfelt celebration that month. “Chad was a special person and for him to be honored and remembered the way he is, hearing people talk about him, makes me feel full and happy.”

The Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) returns to his home country following the events seen in Captain America: Civil War to take his rightful seat at the the throne.

Michael B. Jordan's character the "Killmonger" and Daniel Kaluuya's W'Kabi stand together, the former soon to become the arch nemesis of W'Kabi's best friend, T'Challa.

The women of the Dora Milaje show how powerful the all-female special forces group for Wakanda really is.

T'Challa and Killmonger face off as the two battle to show who deserves the right to serve as King of Wakanda.

Angela Bassett plays the all-knowing and wise Queen Mother of Wakanda, Ramonda, who T'Challa often goes to for advice in times of turmoil.

In the Marvel film Forest Whitaker serves as the wise and spiritual figure that guards the sacred Heart-Shaped herb that bestowed the Black Panther with his special powers.

Bad guy Elysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) & CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) show off their tough demeanor during a particularly tense interrogation.

The Black Panther ditches his superhero suit for one more chic and fitting of a King. His dashing appearance is almost as good-looking as his co-stars.

The Black Panther and Killmonger duke it out in the streets as their country is threatened by World War.

Nakia & T'Challa must put country before themselves, but can they ignore the way they feel in time to save Wakanda from the looming World War?

Nakia and Princess Shuri's (Letitia Wright) loyalty to their country and to T'Challa make them the perfect warriors to defend their country.

The people of Wakanda got it right when they chose the all-female special ops group as their choice to defend the country and the king.

Nakia, T'Challa and Shuri work together to prevent Killmonger and Ulysses from destroying the country they worked hard to advance and unite.

C.I.A. agent Ross leaves the familiarity of America and enters the foreign world of Wakanda, but will he find that it isn't as foreign as he once thought?

With his family and friends by his side, T'Challa can walk into battle with his head held high, but will that be enough to stop Killmonger?

To see Boseman defend his country, check out the film when it hits theaters nationwide on February 16, 2018.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App