Nick Jonas is having one of the busiest stretches of his career, and right now most of the conversation is pointed at one film: Power Ballad. The musical comedy-drama from director John Carney pairs Jonas with Paul Rudd in a story about a stolen song, two very different musicians, and the messy question of who really deserves the credit. With the movie now in wide release and a brand-new solo album already out, Jonas has been opening up about why this role hit so close to home, what it was like to share the screen with one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors, and where he’s headed next.
Here’s a closer look at Power Ballad, Nick Jonas’s performance, his chemistry with Paul Rudd, and the projects he has lined up.
What ‘Power Ballad’ Is About
Power Ballad comes from writer-director John Carney, the Irish filmmaker behind Once, Begin Again, and Sing Street — movies that have built him a reputation as one of the most reliable storytellers working in the music-and-emotion space. Carney co-wrote the script with Peter McDonald, who also appears in the film.
The setup is simple but loaded. Paul Rudd plays Rick, a past-his-prime American wedding singer living in Dublin who fronts a band called The Bride and Groove. He long ago set aside his rock-star dreams to raise a family, but he never stopped writing songs. When Rick meets fading boy-band star Danny during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. Then everything sours: Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, and Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves — even if it means risking everything he cares about.
Nick Jonas plays Danny, the charismatic singer chasing a solo comeback. The film is billed as a feel-good story about music, self-respect, friendship, and the price of ambition. It’s the kind of premise Carney does well — warm on the surface, with real ache underneath.
The movie had a strong festival run before reaching theaters. It premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival on March 1, 2026, then screened at South by Southwest, and was released in select theaters on May 29 before expanding wide on June 5. It’s distributed by Lionsgate and rated R, running about an hour and 38 minutes.
Why the Role Resonated With Nick Jonas
For Jonas, Danny wasn’t a stretch to imagine — it was a character he could understand from the inside. He told ABC Audio that he related to the part on several levels, explaining simply, “I’ve lived a lot of these experiences.”
That lived-in quality is exactly what critics zeroed in on. Having started in a boy band as a kid and gone on to a major solo career, Jonas understands the machinery of fame, the insecurity that hides behind a confident stage presence, and the temptation to rationalize a decision that benefits you. He’s even pointed out the edge a real performer brings to a role like this, noting that an actor “can’t carry that off as well as a real singer who’s been onstage since he was like 6.”
Reviewers agreed the casting was inspired. Variety singled out the layered, self-aware quality of his performance, reading the ego and uncertainty behind Danny’s choice to pass off Rick’s song as his own. Over at NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, critic Linda Holmes admitted she came away a convert, saying she could suddenly see exactly why Jonas became a platinum-selling artist — the charisma and talent landed fully on screen.
Working With Paul Rudd
The heart of Power Ballad is the dynamic between Rick and Danny, and by nearly every account, the chemistry between Rudd and Jonas is what makes it sing. Holmes praised how naturally the two played off each other, and that easy rapport gives the film its momentum even as the story turns thornier.
Rudd, for his part, surprised audiences with genuine musical ability — he sings and plays guitar throughout — but he’s been characteristically modest about it. He told ABC Audio that he wasn’t trying to show off any hidden talents; his real concern on every project is simply whether the performance feels believable. That humility is part of why his Rick works so well: he plays a likable everyman convinced he has one great song in him, and he never overplays the desperation.
The pairing also reflects the film’s larger theme. Rick represents the older musician with experience but no spotlight; Danny is the younger star with the spotlight but a fading shine. Watching a veteran like Rudd and a current chart artist like Jonas bounce off each other gives that generational contrast real texture.
Musically, the film delivers, too. Along with an original song titled “How to Write a Song Without You,” the movie features covers of classic tracks by Bryan Adams and Thin Lizzy, performed by Jonas and Rudd.
What’s Next for Nick Jonas
If Power Ballad feels like a creative peak, it’s only one piece of an unusually packed year. Jonas has been moving fluidly between film, music, and the stage — and his “what’s next” list is already full.
The biggest item is his music. Jonas released his fifth solo studio album, Sunday Best, on February 6, 2026, through Republic Records. It’s a notably stripped-back, introspective record. The project is built largely around acoustic guitar and piano, choirs and a string quartet, paired with raw, self-examining lyrics. The lead single, “Gut Punch,” arrived on New Year’s Day 2026 and set the tone for the more personal direction.
Jonas framed the album as deeply autobiographical. In a statement shared by his label, he described it as a collection of candid thoughts and snapshots from his life, adding that while the record was made over a couple of years, it was “truly 33 years in the making.”
To support it, he’s taking a more intimate approach on the road. In April 2026, Jonas announced A Night with Nick, a limited East Coast run of six shows starting June 4 and concluding June 13, 2026. Rather than a stadium spectacle, the idea is a closer, more storytelling-driven show. Jonas said he’d wanted to do a run like this for a while — something that feels a little closer, playing through different releases across the years and sharing the stories behind them.
There’s the stage work, too. Jonas was most recently seen on Broadway in The Last Five Years before pivoting back to film and music — a reminder of how much range he’s been deliberately building.
And he hasn’t stepped away from the band that started it all. In 2025, Nick and the Jonas Brothers celebrated their 20th anniversary, released the studio album Greetings from Your Hometown, and toured across North America. Fittingly, Sunday Best even includes a single guest appearance from his brothers Joe and Kevin.
The Takeaway
Power Ballad arrives at a moment when Nick Jonas is firing on every cylinder — acting opposite Paul Rudd in a film tailor-made for someone who actually knows what fame does to an artist, while simultaneously releasing his most personal album and hitting the road for a stripped-down tour. The role of Danny worked because Jonas wasn’t pretending; he was drawing on decades of real experience inside the music industry, and audiences and critics felt the difference.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Power Ballad is both a charming summer watch and a clear signal of where Jonas is headed: leaning into honesty, embracing range, and proving that the boy-band kid grew into a genuinely compelling leading man.
About The Author
