Michael B. Jordan is taking his long-running love for anime beyond fandom, with the actor confirming that he currently has multiple anime projects in the early stages of development. Jordan discussed his plans in a cover interview for Vogue’s October 2026 issue, where he also joked that he could eventually devote himself entirely to creating anime.
The revelation adds another major creative direction to Jordan’s growing career as an actor, director and producer. His enthusiasm for Japanese animation has been well documented, and anime has already influenced his filmmaking, particularly the action sequences in Creed III.
Michael B. Jordan Is Developing Multiple Anime Projects
Speaking with Vogue, Jordan revealed that he has
“some [anime] projects in early stages of development.”
The actor then joked about taking his interest even further, telling the publication,
“I might just quit it all and make anime the rest of my life.”
Vogue reporter Kelefa Sanneh noted that Jordan was “only half-joking,” suggesting that his interest in the medium extends well beyond simply incorporating anime-inspired visuals into his live-action work.
Jordan has previously spoken extensively about the anime that influenced him. His favorites include major franchises such as Dragon Ball, Naruto and Hunter x Hunter, along with Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke.
His connection to anime was particularly visible in Creed III, which marked his feature directorial debut. Several of the movie’s boxing sequences were designed with the exaggerated movement, framing and emotional intensity associated with anime fights.
Anime Already Shaped Creed III’s Action
During an IGN Fan Fest interview in 2023, Jordan explained how anime influenced the way he approached the fights between Adonis Creed and Damian Anderson.
“From Hajime no Ippo, to Megalo Box, to Naruto, to My Hero Academia, all of those different anime that I watched growing up, there’s an inherent spirit to them in how they fight,”
Jordan told IGN.
He also pointed to the importance of relationships and emotional connections in anime, explaining that those elements helped shape the way he approached Creed and Damian’s relationship. Jordan even specifically identified a Dragon Ball Z-inspired punch within their climactic confrontation.
With his newly revealed anime projects still in early development, details about their stories, studios, formats and potential release dates remain unknown. However, Jordan’s previous comments indicate that these projects could give him an opportunity to bring the visual language and storytelling influences he grew up with directly into original productions.
Jordan continues to balance his expanding creative ambitions with live-action projects. His upcoming work includes Miami Vice ’85, in which he stars alongside Austin Butler, as well as a planned Battlefield film connected to Electronic Arts’ long-running military game franchise.
