How Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas helped Ryan Coogler with his psychological thriller 'Sinners'

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler, known for his blockbusters like Black Panther and Creed, is once again venturing into bold new territory—this time with Sinners. The upcoming psychological thriller led by longtime collaborator Michael B Jordan in a dual role also features Hailee Steinfeld as the leading lady.

The film, described as a “new vision of fear,” follows twin brothers attempting to outrun their past only to be confronted by a greater evil. The technical feat of portraying twins on screen is already a demanding ask, but Coogler turned to Christopher Nolan and producer Emma Thomas for guidance. “It was an incredible experience,” said Coogler in a statement and added, “I got some advice from Chris [Nolan] and Emma [Thomas], who are kind of IMAX masters of the form and how I experience it.”

Making Jordan portray both twins wasn’t just a narrative decision—it required the visual effects team to develop a custom-built facial capture device to ensure that Jordan’s performance wasn’t lost beneath bulky tech. Coogler added, “We wanted folks to really experience this world that my grandparents were a part of. It’s a world they came up in and it’s often overlooked in American history. But it’s exciting to bring that period to life with the celluloid format, which was around then, but also with the technological advancements that this format could provide. People want to experience something they can fall into—and this was a key to creating that world.”

With a cast also starring Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, and Jack O’Connell, the film opens worldwide on April 18, 2025.