‘I Didn’t Want To Be A Chickensh-t.’ Ryan Coogler Gets Real About Making Sinners Over Another Franchise Film

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Ryan Coogler has built a successful career directing films based on real life or established franchises. However, his upcoming 2025 movie, Sinners, marks a departure, as it’s a completely original story that truly highlights his creative vision and filmmaking skills. While he easily could have made another sequel – especially after the success of his vampire film – Coogler intentionally chose to explore new territory, and for good reason.

With awards season underway, Ryan Coogler and the team behind his film Sinners have been promoting it at several events. Coogler recently appeared at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles and announced that Black Panther 3 will be his next project. However, before starting work on that sequel, he wanted to create his musical horror film, especially given the significant shifts happening in the entertainment industry.

Everyone was worried about the future of the business, especially with people changing how they watched things. It made me realize that if the film industry disappeared, I’d never have had the chance to pursue my true passion, and that thought really bothered me.

It appears the director of Creed was motivated to create something entirely new, fearing he might not get another chance. This makes sense, considering studios have become increasingly dependent on established franchises – in both movies and television – for success over the past ten years. While many of these projects, like the Black Panther films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have been very profitable, Coogler clearly wanted to avoid simply repeating past successes.

I didn’t want to hold back or hide behind established brands. I wanted to fully express myself creatively in a film. Growing up, I was fascinated by strange and scary movies and books, but I hadn’t explored that side of myself in my own work. I felt I hadn’t created enough genuinely surprising moments, and I really wanted this movie to be full of them, even though I’d done similar things before.

More on Sinners

I really enjoyed the movie ‘Sinners,’ largely because it reminded me so much of one of my all-time favorite Oscar winners.

With the success of Sinners, Ryan Coogler has proven he can skillfully transition into horror filmmaking after establishing himself with superhero and sports dramas. The film is expected to be a strong contender during the upcoming awards season, earning high praise not only from critics and audiences but also from renowned directors like Spike Lee and Francis Ford Coppola, both of whom have publicly lauded it.

I really enjoyed Coogler’s new film, and I think he should consider it a success no matter what happens with awards. He took a real risk by telling an original story, and it’s become both a hit with audiences and something many are seeing as culturally significant. I’m glad he didn’t play it safe, as he jokingly put it.

You can now watch Sinners on HBO Max! Plans start at just $10.99 per month (with ads), giving you access to a huge library of movies, shows, documentaries, and more. Sign up today!

I just finished watching Sinners, and it’s now streaming on HBO Max. If you’re interested in learning more about how it was made, definitely follow Ryan Coogler and the team – they’re sharing some cool behind-the-scenes stuff as awards season heats up.

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2025-11-25 23:08