In a refreshing take on modern filmmaking, acclaimed director Ryan Coogler has opened up about the artistic philosophy behind his latest project, 'Sinners'. The 39-year-old filmmaker, best known for 'Black Panther', consciously designed the movie to evoke the timeless, replayable quality of a classic blues song, rather than setting up a cinematic universe.
The Blues as a Cinematic Blueprint
Speaking to Empire magazine, Coogler detailed how blues music became the central metaphor for his creative process. He revealed he was listening to blues "constantly" while writing the script and making the film. This wasn't just background noise; it shaped his entire approach to the movie's structure and emotional core.
"You get a phenomenal blues song, and you just play that again. You run it back," Coogler explained. "It's not like, 'Ah, when are you gonna make a sequel to this song?' You want it again, you go back to it." He wanted 'Sinners' to possess that same self-contained richness, a piece of art that audiences would return to at different points in their lives, discovering new layers as they themselves change.
A Standalone Film in a Franchise World
After years of working within major franchises, Coogler expressed a strong sense of satisfaction in creating a definitive, standalone story. He explicitly stated that if his goal had been to launch a new franchise, the film would have lost the essential quality he was seeking.
"If I was after, 'Oh, this is gonna launch a franchise or whatever', I don't think it would have had that quality," he told the publication. This intent is a deliberate shift from the industry's sequel-driven model. Coogler admitted that even as an audience member, he had forgotten the feeling of watching a truly complete narrative, a feeling he aimed to resurrect with 'Sinners'.
The Ultimate Goal: A Movie That Ages With You
For Coogler, the pinnacle of achievement for 'Sinners' is its ability to mature alongside its viewers. He described his excitement at the prospect of revisiting the film years later as an older person, anticipating that his own life experiences will make it feel like a new movie altogether.
"I wanted to make something that's rich enough, and that could mature properly," he said. "So that when I go back to the movie as an older person, whether it's two weeks or two years or 20 years from now, I've changed enough and it's a new movie. That, for me, is the pinnacle, bro."
The director's vision seems to be resonating with audiences. Reports indicate that people are watching 'Sinners' multiple times in cinemas, a trend that brings Coogler immense pride. "When I hear people say, 'I've seen the movie three, four, or five times', I'm like, 'Yo, that's literally what it was for'," he shared. He even joked about aiming to create something so rewatchable it would make people break their old VCR tapes from overuse.
By framing his film as an 'old blues song', Ryan Coogler has not only defined his artistic intent for 'Sinners' but has also issued a subtle critique of the endless sequel and franchise cycle, championing the enduring power of a singular, well-told story.
