PREVIEW: Power Ballad (2026 Film) - Starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas

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.

PREVIEW: H is for Hawk (2026 Film) - Stars Claire Foy, Brendan Gleeson, Lindsay Duncan, Denise Gough and Sam Spruell

Preview by Jon Donnis

Lionsgate UK has set 23 January 2026 as the UK and Ireland cinema release date for H Is for Hawk, Philippa Lowthorpe's anticipated adaptation of Helen Macdonald's acclaimed memoir. A striking new trailer and artwork have also been released, offering a first look at the film's deeply emotional tone and its windswept landscapes.

Directed by Philippa Lowthorpe (Misbehaviour, The Crown) and co-written with novelist Emma Donoghue, the film stars Claire Foy as Helen, alongside Brendan Gleeson, Lindsay Duncan, Denise Gough, and Sam Spruell. Produced by Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, the project brings together an impressive creative team, promising a poignant and visually rich experience.

At its heart, H Is for Hawk follows Helen, a young academic whose life collapses after the sudden death of her father. Lost in grief and memories of their shared passion for birdwatching, she throws herself into the daunting task of training a goshawk named Mabel. What begins as a distraction soon becomes an all-consuming journey of survival, solitude, and spiritual renewal.

As Helen isolates herself in the quiet edges of Cambridge life, she fills her freezer with hawk food, silences her phone, and immerses herself in the raw world of predator and prey. Through her attempts to tame the fierce bird, she begins to confront her own wildness, exploring how love, loss, and nature intertwine in unexpected ways.

Both an elegy and a celebration, H Is for Hawk promises to be one of early 2026's most emotionally resonant releases, a meditation on the untidy beauty of grief, the power of nature, and the courage it takes to live again.

PREVIEW: Preview: The Long Walk (2025)

 

By Jon Donnis

Lionsgate UK has announced that The Long Walk, directed by Francis Lawrence, will be released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 12 September 2025. A new trailer and official artwork have been released to mark the announcement.

The film is based on the novel by Stephen King, with a screenplay by JT Mollner. It is presented by Lionsgate, in association with Media Capital Technologies, and produced by Vertigo Entertainment and about:blank.

Francis Lawrence, best known for directing several films in The Hunger Games franchise, leads the adaptation. The production team includes Roy Lee, Steven Schneider, Francis Lawrence, and Cameron MacConomy.

The cast features Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Ben Wang, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Roman Griffin Davis, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, and Josh Hamilton. Judy Greer and Mark Hamill also appear.

According to the newly released trailer, the film appears to follow the basic premise of King’s novel quite closely. The footage suggests a high-stakes endurance event where teenage boys must continue walking or face death. While full plot details have not been confirmed, the tone and setup shown align with the novel’s central idea.

The Long Walk will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on 12 September 2025.