Ryan Coogler Reveals the Backstory Behind Smoke and Stack’s Departure to Chicago in Sinners

Director Ryan Coogler has finally revealed the backstory of Michael B. Jordan’s intriguing twins, Smoke and Stack, prior to the events of *Sinners*.

In the opening of the 2025 vampire flick *Sinners*, we meet twins Elijah and Elias Moore, also known as Smoke and Stack, who return to their Mississippi hometown after finding success in Chicago. However, the reasons behind their initial departure remain somewhat of a mystery.

“They killed their father, hid out at Mary’s mom’s place, then went to New York and joined the military. They fought in France, returned home for a bit, and that’s when Stack and Mary got involved,” Coogler shared in an interview.

We already knew that Smoke and Stack had lived with the mother of Hailee Steinfeld’s character, Mary, which explains her anger over their absence at her funeral. However, since Mary was just a child during their stay, the timeline of their romantic connection was unclear. Coogler also addressed why Smoke’s love interest, Annie, had reservations about his brother.

After returning to town, the brothers took different paths. “It was like a 3-year run where the twins had basically split; Smoke and Annie settled down while Stack and Mary moved to Little Rock,” Coogler explained. “Things got tough after they lost their daughter, leading both to leave their partners and head to Chicago.”

The film kicks off with the twins back in town, armed with the money they acquired in Chicago, which they plan to use to open a juke joint. However, their plans are soon interrupted by a gang of vampires, and we all know how that story unfolds.

Michael B. Jordan has captivated audiences with his portrayal of the dual brothers, earning nominations for both the Oscar and the BAFTA for Best Actor in a Leading Role. *Sinners* has already made waves in Oscar history, racking up 16 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.