Michael B. Jordan Announces the Use of Inclusion Riders for Future Projects

After Frances McDormand vocalized the importance of inclusion riders at the Oscars ceremony this past weekend, Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan followed up with an important decision for his production company, Outlier Society. In a statement shared on his Instagram account yesterday, Jordan said inclusion riders would be used on all future projects produced by Outlier Society.

A rider is a component of a contract that stipulates the specific needs or demands of a celebrity when signing on for a project. When a star adopts an inclusion rider, the producers are required to cast actors that represent the actual demographics of where the film or TV show takes place. Additionally, the inclusion rider stipulates that the crew of the project must also be diverse. This applies to race, sexual orientation, and physical ability.

In his Instagram post, Jordan also urged fans to support the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, a think tank at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism that champions the inclusion riders cause.

In support of the women & men who are leading this fight, I will be adopting the Inclusion Rider for all projects produced by my company Outlier Society. I’ve been privileged to work with powerful woman & persons of color throughout my career & it’s Outlier’s mission to continue to create for talented individuals going forward. If you want to learn more about how to support the cause – link in bio. #OutlierSociety #AnnenbergInclusionInitiative

A post shared by Michael B. Jordan (@michaelbjordan) on Mar 7, 2018 at 3:03pm PST

Jordan isn’t the only Marvel star to openly support the inclusion rider. Star of next year’s Captain Marvel film Brie Larson tweeted on Sunday about her commitment to the inclusion rider.

I’m committed to the Inclusion Rider. Who’s with me? https://t.co/yvQ0wR5D80

— Brie Larson (@brielarson) March 5, 2018

The impact of celebrities adding inclusion riders to projects could make a significant impact on Hollywood. When stars like Jordan, Larson, and McDormand demand inclusion, underrepresented groups finally have the opportunity to gain a foothold in the industry. Furthermore, the use of inclusion riders could signify a new era of filmmaking and TV production, allowing for new talents and voices to get the screen time they deserve.