Paul Rudd plays a wedding musician who discovers a famous singer he met (Nick Jonas) released a song he originally wrote in 'Power Ballad,' in theaters June 5
NEED TO KNOW
- PEOPLE is exclusively debuting a scene from Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd’s new movie Power Ballad
- The actors portray a famous singer and wedding band musician, respectively, who come into conflict after Jonas’ character steals Rudd’s idea for a song and turns it into a hit
- Power Ballad is in theaters June 5
Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd are two songwriters who bond over a catchy idea for a song in their new movie.
Lionsgate shared an exclusive preview of Jonas and Rudd's new movie Power Ballad with PEOPLE on Wednesday, April 29, showing the moment Rudd's character Rick — a wedding band musician — shows Jonas' character Danny — a famous singer — an idea he's had for a song over many years. The clip shows the pair play through the song's chorus together on the piano and acoustic guitar before Rudd, 57, as Rick, calls it a night and leaves Danny (Jonas, 33) to contemplate the idea further.
This moment in the movie serves as the basis for Power Ballad's plot: as a trailer for the movie released in March shows, Rick learns some time after meeting Danny that Danny has turned his idea into his new hit single and revitalized his career as a recording artist after releasing the hit. Rick, in turn, sets out to receive credit for writing the tune in the first place.
Credit: Lionsgate
"When Rick, a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session," reads an official synopsis for Power Ballad. "But when Danny turns one of Rick's songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves – even if it means risking everything he cares about."
The new movie is directed by John Carney (Sing Street), who wrote the movie's script with Peter McDonald. According to the synopsis, Power Ballad "is a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition." Screenwriter McDonald also appears in the movie as an actor alongside costars Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu and Jack Reynor.
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Credit: Lionsgate
Jonas previously teased Power Ballad as a movie with "some music" involved while chatting with PEOPLE about his busy year in February. "I jump back into [the next Jumanji film] in a couple weeks, which will be fun," he said at the time. "And then there's another film project I can't say too much about, but it's one that I've been developing for a while, which I'm incredibly excited about, a fun ensemble piece, which there'll be an announcement about soon."
Power Ballad is the first movie Jonas has starred in since last year's streaming comedies You're Cordially Invited and A Very Jonas Christmas Movie. He will also appear on the big screen later this year in Camp Rock 3, which releases in August, as well as December's Jumanji: Open World. Rudd, meanwhile, last appeared on the big screen in December 2025's Anaconda. He has two movies on the way later this year, including June's Rain Reign and December's Avengers: Doomsday.
Power Ballad is in theaters June 5.
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