09/17/2023
What are the little bumps and dots on Killmonger's skin in the Black Panther movie?
There’s actually quite an interesting story behind the little scars you see on Killmonger in the film.
The truth is, when the script was originally written, there was no plan to have the scars on Erik’s body. He was meant to go shirtless with totally clean looks.
But that all changed when Michael B. Jordan saw Denzel Washington act as an ex-slave in the 1989 film, Glory.
Jordan admitted that he was so moved by Denzel’s performance, when he saw the scars Trip had received from beatings, he decided that he wanted Killmonger character to have scars, too.
So drawing on the real-life African ritual of body-scarring, where indigenous people blemish themselves in order to signify milestones or accomplishments in life, he imagined Killmonger’s new look.
But let me just say this: Creating Jordan’s vision was harder than you think.
In fact, his makeup team- consisting of only of four people- needed to place each and every single one of those scars by hand whenever Michael went in for filming.
Every day, the four of them would be up by 3A.M, carefully plastering tiny silicone molds unto Jordan’s skin- a process that took hours every time.
They’d then begin the process of painting the molds so they were the same color as his body- another several-hour job- until filming begun later in the day.
But the most intense part of this?
Michael Jordan insisted they put the scars on him whenever filming was going on, even when his body was covered by a shirt, because Denzel had done the same 30 years ago.
In Michael’s words:
"I remember hearing stories about you, and I heard that when you were huddled around the campfire in that film, you weren't supposed to be shirtless. But you still had the scars put on your back; So you could feel it. So you could know what your character's been through."
"I tell you right now tonight, brother, that's the only reason why I had those scars, even when I wasn't shirtless: Because of you. So I want to say thank you for that."
You can’t help but give props to the Black Panther team after that.
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