"A Journal For Jordan" Is Finally Out – Here's Where You Might've Seen The Cast Before

Have your tissues ready!

🚨 Warning – this post includes some spoilers for the movie, but nothing you might not have already guessed or read about! 🚨

A Journal for Jordan has just been released, and I'm super excited for everyone to see this beautiful film! The story focuses on the relationship between a Black couple and their son, who are torn apart after one of them is deployed to Baghdad during the Iraq War.

David Lee/Sony Pictures

Based on a true story, the movie is told from the perspective of New York Times editor Dana Canedy, whose fiancée Charles goes goes off to fight in the Iraq War and leaves her to look after their infant son, Jordan. Dana gives Charles a journal to keep while he is away, in which he writes over 200 pages of love and advice for his son who he would never see again.

We follow the life-altering events that happened before Charles is deployed, and after he is killed in action during the Iraq War.

Honestly, the cast of this movie is everything! Here's where you might know them all from...

Michael B. Jordan – Charles Monroe King

Sony Pictures Releasing/Michael Loccisano / Via Getty Images

You ~should~ know Michael from a mile away, as he's been in some of our favourite movies and shows, giving us ALL the eye candy we all need! He's perhaps best know for playing Erik Killmonger in Black Panther and Adonis Johnson in the Creed films.

In A Journal for Jordan, Michael plays soldier, father, and fiancée, Charles Monroe King. In real life, Charles was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq in 2006. As well as being in the military, Charles was a trained artist and a Christian – both of which are explored in the film.

Check out Michael as Killmonger in Black Panther:

Marvel Studios

Chanté Adams – Dana Canedy

Sony Pictures Releasing/Theo Wargo / Via Getty Images

Let me tell you, If you haven't seen Roxanne Roxanne, you are missing out! Chanté shone with her acting ability, and later picked up the Sundance Special Jury Prize for her Breakthrough Performance. She has also appeared in such films as Monsters and Men, Bad Hair, and The Photograph.

In A Journal for Jordan, Chanté plays Dana Canedy who is a senior editor at The New York Times and Charles's fiancée. After losing him, Dana struggles as a single mother whilst also dealing with her all-consuming grief for Charles.

Check out Chanté playing Roxanne in Roxanne Roxanne:

Netflix

Here's Jalon playing Jack in Selfie Dad:

Kappa Studios

Jalon Christian – Jordan

Sony Pictures Releasing/Michael Loccisano / Via Getty Images

We love to see a young child actor on the rise to stardom! Jalon has previously starred in the films Saving Christmas and Selfie Dad, and will also appear in Black Adam later this year.

In A Journal for Jordan, Jalon plays Jordan, the son of Dana and Charles. Unfortunately, he only gets to meet his father once at five months old as Charles was later killed in action. He's raised by his mother, and guided by the words his father left him in his journal.

Robert Wisdom – Sergeant T.J. Canedy

HBO/Michael Loccisano / Via Getty Images

Fans of The Wire better stand up! Robert's best-known roles are Howard "Bunny" Colvin in The Wire, Norman "Lechero" St. John in Prison Break, and he also starred in Vacation Friends as Harold Conway. In A Journal for Jordan, he plays Dana's father.

Check out Robert as Bunny in The Wire:

HBO

Tamara Tunie – Penny Canedy

NBC/Michael Loccisano / Via Getty Images

I'm sure we can all agree that Tamara is an all-around star, and I, for one, loved her in Law & Order! I mean, she does it all – film, stage, producing, directing! She even received a Tony Award for Best Musical after producing Spring Awakening.

Tamara's most notable roles are Jessica Griffin in As the World Turns and Melinda Warner in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In A Journal for Jordan, she plays Dana's mother, Penny.

Take a look at Tamara playing Julia in Dietland:

AMC

Marchánt Davis – Mike Canedy

IFC Films/Entertainment One/Michael Loccisano / Via Getty Images

You might recognise Marchánt for his roles in The Day Shall Come (as Moses Al Shabaz), Summer of '72, and in the film Tuscaloosa. In A Journal for Jordan, he plays Dana's brother, Mike Canedy. 

Here's Marchánt playing Al Shabaz in The Day Shall Come:

IFC Films/ Entertainment One

Jasmine Batchelor – Gwen Canedy

Monument Releasing/Michael Loccisano / Via Getty Images

If Jasmine looks familiar to you, it might be because you watched the movie The Surrogate, which resulted in her getting a 2021 IFP Gotham Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor. Jasmine has also worked for a range of theatre companies making a name for herself on stage, and it doesn't stop there! She's made appearances in The Good Fight, New Amsterdam, NCIS: New Orleans too. In A Journal for Jordan, she plays Gwen Canedy, Dana's sister.

Check out Jasmine as Jess in The Surrogate:

Monument Releasing

Grey Henson – Ciro

U.S. National tour/Michael Loccisano / Via Getty Images

Who doesn't love Broadway??? Henson originated the role of Damian Hubbard in Mean Girls and, in turn, this earned him a nomination for a 2018 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. You may have also seen him play Elder McKinley in the US National touring production of The Book of Mormon. In A Journal for Jordan, Henson plays one of Dana's closest friends.

Take a look at Grey playing Damian in the Broadway show Mean Girls:

U.S. National touring

Susan Pourfar – Miriam

NBC/Walter McBride / Via Getty Images

Susan has been in numerous TV shows and films and believe me, her work doesn't go unnoticed! She's known for her roles in Scandal, Black Mirror, Manchester by the Sea, and In The Heights. Pourfar has also collected a few awards for her stage performances, one being for her portrayal of Sylvia in the Off-Broadway production of Tribes. In A Journal for Jordan, she plays Miriam, a colleague and friend to Dana.

Here's Susan playing Dana in the mini-series The Suffersons:

Rocketboom

Vanessa Aspillaga – Manuela

Hulu/Jemal Countess / Via Getty Images

Vanessa has humour and acting ability in spades! She's best known for her role in Hustlers as Manuela, but has also appeared in well-known films Morning Glory and Love & Other Drugs. In A Journal for Jordan, she plays Robin, one of Dana's closest friends.

Check out Vanessa playing Kathy in the Off-Broadway show Amy and the Orphans:

Roundabout Theatre Company

A Journal for Jordan is now available to watch in cinemas!

Sony Pictures Releasing

Additional thumbnail credits: Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP.