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Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas Get Violent as Songwriting Goes Wrong in ‘Power Ballad’ Trailer

Lionsgate releases John Carney's comedy feature later this year after it screens at SXSW.

EntertainmentBy Christopher BlakeMarch 11, 20262 min read

Last updated: April 3, 2026, 12:56 AM

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Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas Get Violent as Songwriting Goes Wrong in ‘Power Ballad’ Trailer

Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas‘ professional relationship gets off-key in the trailer for the comedy feature Power Ballad.

Lionsgate releases writer-director John Carney‘s movie June 5 following its premiere earlier this month at the Dublin International Film Festival. Jack Reynor and Havana Rose Liu round out the cast.

Power Ballad centers on wedding singer Rick (Rudd) connecting with former boy band member Danny (Jonas) as they work on music together. When Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into a career-reviving hit, Rick sets out to get his proper recognition.

“I could tell within two minutes of meeting you, you’re not just some boy band guy,” Rudd says in the trailer. This leads Jonas to respond, “And you are too good for that wedding band.”

Later, things get tense, with both of them getting bloody as their rift turns physical. Jonas asks, “Do you think it is easy to turn a song into a hit?”

Carney (Once, Begin Again) helmed the movie from a script he co-wrote with Peter McDonald. Carney produces alongside Anthony Bregman, Peter Cron, Rebecca O’Flanagan and Robert Walpole. Power Ballad screens at SXSW later this month.

Jonas appeared with fellow Jonas Brothers stars and siblings Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas in last year’s Disney+ holiday comedy A Very Jonas Christmas Movie. He is also set to return for Sony’s sequel to Jumanji: The Next Level.

Rudd starred with Jack Black in the 2025 comedy Anaconda and reprises his role as Ant-Man in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday.

CB
Christopher Blake

Entertainment Editor

Christopher Blake covers Hollywood, streaming, and the entertainment industry for the Journal American. With 12 years covering the entertainment beat, he has interviewed hundreds of filmmakers, actors, and studio executives. His coverage of the streaming wars and box office trends is widely read.

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