Michael B. Jordan has already made a name for himself as part of ensemble casts in the television programs The Wire and Friday Night Lights, and in the films Red Tails and Chronicle. But the actor is poised to get the solo spotlight with his role in the new film Fruitvale Station, and it's a challenge he's always welcomed.

"I wanted to show that I could carry a movie," Jordan told The Associated Press. "That's the next step. I want to do films. I want to be a leading man. A lot was riding on this."

Fruitvale Station tells the story of the last day of Oscar Grant, a young black man from the Bay Area killed by a BART officer in an infamous 2009 police shooting.

The film is currently in contention at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section, and it is continuing to rack up critical acclaim, just like it did at Sundance earlier this year -- it won that festival's Grand Jury prize and the Audience Award for drama.

The reception for the film has far exceeded Jordan's expectations -- he merely hoped the film just made it to Sundance -- so, he plans on really enjoying the Cannes environment. "It's electric, it's like March Madness," said Jordan. "It's that time of year where everyone's just in it, talking about movies."

But, he added, "I don't want to be that ignorant American who comes over here and expects everyone to love it: 'Oh, you got to love it because it's hot over there.'

"I want people to be excited about [the film] because it really affects them."

Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler said he had Jordan in mind for the role of Grant while he developed the movie, and was compelled to really focus on the Grant character in part because of Jordan's past performances.

"In everything that he was in, I wished the camera stayed on him," Coogler said. "He would be in a scene, and on TV, it leaves and goes on [to another character]. I would be like, 'Man, we should be following that guy.'"

Jordan is also being considered for the new Fantastic Four reboot (although he's expressed that "that's not real yet"), where he would play the Human Torch; the film will be directed by Josh Trank, who worked with Jordan in Chronicle. And though arguments have been made against the casting of a black actor, Jordan believes the superhero's characteristics can apply to people of any background.

"I'm all about breaking barriers and changing stuff," said Jordan. "It's 2013. We've got a black president. Times have changed."

Ultimately, Jordan hopes to join that pantheon of other young male actors who have risen to critical prominence: "I want a career like Leo. I want a career like Ryan Gosling."

But for now, he's just excited for what might be on the horizon. "It feels good. It feels good to get to a place where I can be creative and selective about certain things I do. I'm really curious to see what's next."