How John Carney Builds a Musical: Paul Rudd's Song Picks, Nick Jonas' Casting Ideas, and Not Selling Out

Power Ballad centers on Rick Power, a former would-be rock star who now supports his family and works with a wedding band. During a gig, he meets Danny Wilson, a former boy-bander aiming to become a solo star. Danny joins the band onstage for a memorable jam, and the two trade songs and stories through the night. Months later, Rick hears a familiar tune on the radio and wonders whether Danny stole one of his songs. The film then focuses on the emotional and practical consequences of that possibility and what Rick should do next.

"Rudd is Rick Power (get it?), a one-time would-be rock star who has since moved on from his dreams of being a professional rock n' roller, instead dedicating himself to his family (including his Irish wife and daughter) and the wedding band (The Bride and Groove) that pays his bills. It's during one of those gigs that he meets Danny Wilson (Jonas), a former boy-bander trying to prove he's got the juice to be a solo star."

"When Danny hops up on stage to jam out with the band during a memorable rendition of "I Wish," no one is more shocked than Rick that the youngster is not only talented but genuinely fun to sing with. Soon enough, the pair are jamming out all night, trading songs and stories in equal measure. But, months later, when Rick hears a familiar tune on the radio, he has to face (ahem) the music: Did Danny steal one of his songs?"

"And has it turned into the kind of massive smash hit that Rick never enjoyed during his heyday? And what the hell is he gonna do about it now? Ahead, Carney tells IndieWire about collaborating (making beautiful music together?) with both Rudd and Jonas on a number of the film 's key elements, not ever "making a deal with the devil," worries about being the last generation to truly know the theatric"

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