Preview by Jon Donnis
Lionsgate UK has released the first trailer and artwork for Power Ballad, a new music-driven comedy drama from writer and director John Carney. The film arrives in UK and Irish cinemas on 29 May 2026, bringing together an unusual pairing of performers in a story about ambition, friendship, and the complicated business of creative credit.
Paul Rudd leads the film as Rick, a once popular wedding singer who now finds himself well past his moment in the spotlight. His routine life on the gig circuit takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Danny, played by Nick Jonas, a former boy band star whose own career has begun to fade. A shared love of music sparks an easy connection between the two men during a late night jam session, the kind of casual collaboration that feels more like therapy than work.
Things begin to unravel when Danny turns one of Rick's songs into a breakout hit that launches his own comeback. The success that follows brings Danny back into the public eye, but it also leaves Rick watching from the sidelines as his music gains attention without the recognition he feels he deserves. Faced with the uncomfortable gap between authorship and fame, Rick decides to chase the credit that has slipped through his fingers, even if doing so threatens the relationships and stability he still has.
The film comes from John Carney, whose previous work includes Sing Street and Once, two projects known for weaving music naturally into their storytelling. Power Ballad appears to follow that same tradition, using performance and songwriting not simply as background decoration but as the emotional core of the story.
Alongside Rudd and Jonas, the cast includes Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, and Jack Reynor. Carney co wrote the screenplay with Peter McDonald, and the production team brings together Anthony Bregman, John Carney, Peter Cron, Rebecca O'Flanagan, and Robert Walpole.
Power Ballad is presented by Lionsgate in association with 30WEST and Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland. The film is a Likely Story and Distressed Films production, created in association with Treasure Entertainment.
Running for 98 minutes and carrying a 15 certificate in the UK and a 15A in Ireland, Power Ballad promises a warm but slightly bittersweet look at the fragile line between artistic passion and personal pride when it arrives in cinemas on 29 May 2026.
