Nick Jonas praises director John Carney ahead of ‘Power Ballad’ release

Nick Jonas has opened up about the factors that convinced him to join Power Ballad, crediting director John Carney’s deep passion for music as a major reason he signed on for the film.

The singer and actor stars alongside Paul Rudd in the upcoming movie, which follows an American wedding singer living in Ireland who unexpectedly forms a bond with a fading pop star during a late-night jam session.

Speaking with Deadline, Jonas praised Carney’s unique approach to filmmaking, explaining that the acclaimed director’s musical background helped shape the project in a meaningful way.

“John is a musician. He started as a musician, and music is so a part of him. It’s in the marrow of his bones,” Jonas said.

“He lives it, he breathes it, and he directs like a musician.”

The Jonas Brothers star noted that Carney’s connection to music extends far beyond simply incorporating songs into a story.

“His relationship with music is not a superficial or light relationship,” Jonas explained. “I think he feels compelled to serve the music in a way.”

Jonas admitted he had long admired Carney’s work, making the decision to join the project an easy one.

“I’d been a fan of his forever, and when I heard about this script and they shared a logline, it was a pretty simple decision,” he said.

After reading the screenplay, Jonas discovered an unexpected personal connection to his character.

He explained that the role explores the challenges of forging an individual identity after finding success as part of a group — a journey that resonated with his own experiences in the music industry.

“I’ve lived some of those experiences and felt deeply connected to it,” Jonas said, adding that the film’s music further strengthened his enthusiasm for the project.

The actor and musician also revealed that learning Paul Rudd had joined the cast made the opportunity even more appealing.

“When I heard that Paul was doing the movie, I was thrilled,” Jonas said. “I’ve always been a fan and dreamed of working with him.”

According to Jonas, his first day on set immediately established the tone for their collaboration.

The pair filmed a scene in which their characters write music, perform together and share drinks — an experience he described as the perfect introduction to the project.

“That first day on set was the scene where we’re in the suite together writing, jamming and drinking,” he recalled. “It was the perfect way to set the stage for the experience.”