Here’s some big news! According to reports, Michael B Jordan, long rumored to be involved with a Superman project in one way or another, is pursuing his own Black Superman project with HBO Max.
The Jordan version of Superman will be a completely separate character from the traditional Kal-El version. Instead, the focus will be on Val-Zod, a Black character described as “…one of the last Kryptonians of his universe and the second to use the mantle of Superman.”
Various sources have confirmed that as of right now, the project is being conceived and written as a limited series. As for Jordan’s function, he is expected to be an active producer and could even take the lead role as Val-Zod.
Why Another Black Superman Project
Warner Bros already has a Black Superman project in the works with J.J. Abrams’ production company Bad Robot. This film will follow the familiar origin story for Kal-El/Clark Kent but the character will be portrayed by a Black actor. (Yes, that’s a whole other can of worms there.). Ta-Nehisi Coates has already begun writing the script.
So with a Black Superman movie in the books, many may wonder why Michael B Jordan is pursuing his own Black Superman project.
An editorial by Jamie Broadnax on Black Girl Nerds may shed some light on the subject. According to her sources:
“Jordan has not wanted to engage in conversations about racebending Kal-El for the same reasons many of the fans are pushing back on the current Warner Bros. re-imagined version of Clark Kent, but that he would be interested in engaging on a Black Superman project centering on the Val-Zod storyline.”
This explanation provides a very strong and astute motive for Jordan to produce his own Black Superman series. Why racebend a character that has been white for decades when you can tell the story of a Black man that already holds the Superman mantle?
However, THR reported that Jordan’s project was originally brought to Warner Bros first and according to different sources, the project fell apart because either Jordan wanted too much control over the project or Warner Bros. didn’t want actors to have so much control over the projects they produced. So when Jordan left Warner Bros, they gave the ‘Black Superman’ project to J.J. Abrams who then tapped Ta-Nahisi Coates to scribe.
All was not lost, as HBO Max then approached Jordan and asked him if he wanted to try to do the project for them. Thus, the reason we seem to have a Black Kal-El coming to theaters and Val-Zod heading to the small screen.
About Val-Zod
Introduced in 2014 as part of the New 52’s Earth-2 continuity, Val-Zod is the Superman from Earth 2. Along with Kara and Kal-El, he was saved by Jor-El and Lara Zor-El and sent to Earth before Krypton exploded. Instead of being found by Jonathan and Martha Clark, the young alien was found by Terry Sloan, who offered him a safe haven to protect him from the outside world. Long story short, Val-Zod learns to master his powers and becomes Superman of Earth 2.
While there’s no word on a release date so far, we are excited about this project and will report to you once we know more!
