In a press conference for the upcoming film Sinners and its second trailer, Juju Green (Straw Hat Goofy) spoke with Ryan Coogler on his fifth directorial venture.
The pair discussed Coogler’s recurring collaboration with Michael B. Jordan, highlighting their personal and professional bond which grew as they both advanced in their careers.
“We kind of grew up in the business together… It’s very unique to find that in somebody,” Coogler said. “We’ve become friends and continue to challenge each other.”
Coogler emphasized the uniqueness and mutual creative push in their relationship. In this film, Jordan will be playing dual roles as he portrays twins, allowing for an exploration of character duality and depth in the narrative of the film, as well as a new challenge for the actor and filmmaker.
He revealed that Sinners is a deeply personal project, influenced by his family roots in Mississippi and the impactful relationship he has with his uncle.
“The seed of it started with that relationship with my uncle. He would talk about Mississippi when he was listening to blues music. He had a profound effect on my life,” Coogler shared.
The film explores themes related to his ancestral history, making it a meaningful and personal expression of his artistic vision.
“Each time I make something, I’ve been blessed to make it the most personal thing that I’ve made up to that date. And this one’s no different,” Coogler shared.
During this conversation, Coogler revealed that Sinners is genre-fluid with supernatural elements such as vampires and draws inspiration from different sources such as the Coen Brothers, Robert Rodriguez, and the novel “Salem’s Lot.”
“Our film Sinners, it’s a unique one. And it’s kind of genre bending. It’s really about a lot more than just that [vampires]. It’s one of many elements,” Coogler explained.
Meticulous research has gone into the film’s production in order to ensure authenticity, particularly in representing historical and cultural elements with accuracy.
“It’s hard to make a movie. And when you have somebody who it clicks with, somebody who understands you, who gets you, it doesn’t feel like work all the time,” Coogler said.
Coogler made the decision to shoot on celluloid and large-format film to enhance the cinematic experience.
“It’s my first film back on celluloid since Fruitvale [Station] and working with Warner Bros., they allowed us to shoot the film in large format,” Coogler explained. “The movie was made to be seen with a crowd and with people you don’t know… it was made for that. It’s my gift to people who like that right now.”
Catch Sinners in theaters on April 18, 2025.
