Katea Mahe (KT)
April 14, 2025
Vampires, vibes & visionary filmmaking with Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan and an electric ensemble
We stepped inside the (virtual) room where it happened
For Your Reference had the opportunity to attend the Warner Bros.’ global press junket for Sinners—Ryan Coogler’s genre‑bending, blood‑drenched Southern‑gothic that sinks its fangs into U.S. history. The panel, moderated by the ever‑game Jacqueline Coley, gathered director Ryan Coogler, and a stacked cast that includes Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Benson Miller, Li Jun Li and legend Delroy Lindo.
What followed was 25 minutes of craft talk, good‑natured roasting and proof that Sinners is far more than a vampire flick—it’s a labour of love.
🎥 Watch the full replay on Rogue Eye Media’s YouTube channel.
7 Takeaways We Can’t Stop Thinking About
1. Coogler × Jordan: creative shorthand verging on telepathy
Jordan says their “non‑verbal communication … has only gotten better over the years,” crediting his own Creed III directing stint for new empathy toward Coogler’s many hats. Coogler returns the love, praising Jordan’s work ethic and the kindness that trickles down to every PA and boom‑op on set. When your #1 treats the crew like family, everyone wins.
2. Harmonising being a musician to a breakout role
Newcomer Miles Caton (musical prodigy Sammie) went from Coldplay tour backup singer to leading a Coogler feature in a blink. One self‑tape, a call‑back and an L.A. chemistry read later, he was in New Orleans opposite Jordan—“every day was a learning experience,” he says. Keep an eye on this kid.
3. Jack O’Connell is relishing his “everlasting‑love” baddie
O’Connell happily calls Remmick a villain—yet insists the fanged antagonist is really “all about fellowship and love… just a little bite.” Expect charm, menace and plenty of literal bloodletting when Remmick crashes the juke joint.
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4. Delroy Lindo dusts off his dance‑class muscle memory
Playing blues patriarch Delta Slim meant choreographed brawls in a smoky juke. Lindo likens the stunt beats to dance steps he once practiced in class. Bonus trivia: he joined production late, walking straight into fight rehearsals already “in the thick of building the moves.”
5. Li Li uncovers a hidden chapter of Delta history
The Chinese‑American actor (store‑owner Grace Chow) had never heard of the Mississippi Delta’s Chinese community until she read Coogler’s sides. Researching doc Far East Deep South and dialect clips from Frieda Kwan, she discovered shopkeepers who served Black and white patrons while navigating their own prejudice—rich texture that shows up in every costume and line reading.
6. Love stories bloom amid moss‑draped oaks & midnight shoots
For Wunmi Mosaku (Annie) and Hailee Steinfeld (Mary), Louisiana locations were practically scene partners. Mosaku calls Annie’s candle‑lit shop—live spider webs, smoke through floorboards—“really magical… it added to our intimacy.” Steinfeld, who shot mostly at night inside the juke, says the creaking wood and blues music made the space feel instantly like home.
7. An egalitarian set everyone feels
Omar Benson Miller jokes about “Darth Vader breathing on the mic” before getting serious: Coogler runs “the most egalitarian set I have ever been on… once everybody came out of the trailers, everybody was equal.” Jayme Lawson echoes the sentiment, confessing she’d show up on off‑days just to watch Coogler work because of the “freedom” he extends to collaborators.
Why We’re Counting the Days
Early critics‑only screenings hail Sinners as “a bold, genre‑bending vampire tale that weds juke‑joint blues to Jim Crow horror in 1930s Mississippi.” With Autumn Durald Arkapaw behind the lens and Ludwig Göransson on the score, the film promises sonic swagger to match its visual bite. Warner Bros. unleashes Sinners in regular cinemas nationwide on Thursday, 17 April 2025, and in IMAX at Australia’s two giant screens—IMAX Sydney (Darling Harbour) and IMAX Melbourne (Melbourne Museum).
🎧 Episode 362 of the For Your Reference podcast drops next week with our full review. Subscribe wherever you get your pods, and tell us which junket moment has you most hyped.
Until then, keep your stakes sharp and stay nasty.