Paul Rudd reveals the surprising past career he drew from for his new musical drama Power Ballad

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I think everyone kind of knows Paul Rudd loves music, even if you don’t follow his career closely. He just seems like that kind of guy, and of course, being a Marvel star doesn’t hide that passion!

Paul Rudd frequently showcases his singing ability, whether it’s performing with his friends in the 2024 film Friendship or delivering a heartfelt serenade to a former love interest in a memorable scene from the 2008 comedy Role Models.

However, Paul Rudd’s newest project, the musical drama Power Ballad directed by John Carney, marks the first time he’s truly embraced a character deeply passionate about music on screen.

John Carney is a seasoned filmmaker, having achieved success with projects like the Oscar-winning ‘Once’ and the 2013 drama ‘Begin Again’. This new film isn’t his first venture into successful storytelling.

Honestly, he was the main reason I signed on for the project. I’m a huge fan of John Carney’s films, so when the chance came up to work with him, I jumped at it! I was really excited about it, especially with the film coming out on May 29th.

In the movie, Paul Rudd plays Rick, a wedding singer who tries to slip his own original songs into his performances, even though he’s given up on becoming a successful artist.

Everything changes when he meets international pop star Danny (Nick Jonas) at a wedding. They quickly become friends and end up bonding over music during a late-night, alcohol-fueled jam session, sharing ideas about their songs.

What started as a positive interaction briefly gave Danny the opportunity to borrow some inspiration from Rick. This sparked a worldwide journey for Rudd’s character, as he sought the acknowledgment and esteem he’d always wanted.

This unfair situation distracts Rick, causing problems with his wedding band, cleverly called Bride and Groove, and ultimately leading to its breakup.

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Paul Rudd seemed to really enjoy hosting these moments, and it turned out he had experience in a similar role – he used to be a wedding DJ! It was a surprisingly natural fit for him.

He shared with TopMob that while he was in school, he worked as a DJ on weekends, performing at events like weddings, bar mitzvahs, and birthday parties, and then attended classes during the week.

Although he wasn’t a member of a wedding band like Bride and Groove, he picked up valuable skills from performing at celebratory events. He explained that a bandleader, like a DJ, needs to understand the crowd and keep people dancing, and he felt he’d learned this skill well simply by being a DJ.

Rudd clarified that he wasn’t a typical club DJ, like those you’d find in a place like Ibiza. He explained that when he refers to himself as a DJ, it’s more along the lines of someone who plays music for family-friendly events, like a limbo contest.

Power Ballad, the ninth film from director Carney, features a talented cast including Nick Jonas, known from the Jonas Brothers, as well as Marcella Plunkett (Sing Street), Peter McDonald (The Batman), Rory Keenan (The Guard), and Havana Rose Liu (Bottoms).

Authors

Calum Russell

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2026-05-27 17:39