Sinners has been airing in Cinemark Theatres since April 18.
Credit: Siri ChallaProducers for Ryan Coogler’s new film "Sinners" hosted a virtual press conference in early April for student journalists from universities and colleges across the country, including Penn.
The film, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, is a Southern Gothic horror film starring Michael B. Jordan. It follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack–both played by Jordan–who return to their hometown to escape their past, only to encounter a lurking evil tied to the region’s buried histories. The conference revealed insights into the creative development, character dynamics, and historical inspirations behind the film.
Coogler, who is best known for "Black Panther" and "Creed," praised the cast for their dedication and highlighted their collaborative environment fostered on set. Jordan described a deeper empathy for Coogler’s process, noting how their long-standing “creative shorthand” allowed for increased efficiency on set.
“There’s a mutual kind of understanding… I can’t really explain the nonverbal communication that we have that’s only gotten better over the years,” Jordan explained, referring to his work with Coogler in films such as "Fruitvale Station," "Creed," "Black Panther," and, now, "Sinners."
“[Jordan] wants to challenge himself, constantly,” Coogler said. “And what was great was … I got that with every cast member.”
Actress Li Jun Li explained the research process behind her character and learning more about the cultural interactions in the Jim Crow South, especially with the lesser-known history of Chinese-American communities in the Mississippi Delta, and her role as a local shopkeeper.
"When we dived into the research it was fascinating. [Chinese-Americans] were such a crucial part of the world at the time," Jun Li said. "They were the only people who were able to open up grocery stores specifically for the black and white communities, but they also endured a lot of prejudice themselves.”
Actor Omar Miller told listeners at the press conference that he felt "blessed" to have worked for a long time, and in his experience, Coogler ran the "most egalitarian set" he's ever been on.
“Once everybody came out of the trailers, everybody was equal, and for somebody who has had an underdog element to his whole career, I value that so much," Miller said.
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