Nick Jonas Warns 'Be Careful Who You Share a Blunt With' at SXSW Premiere of Paul Rudd Music Comedy 'Power Ballad'

The film follows a wedding band singer who reignites his passion for songwriting after a late-night jam session with a former boy band star.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:11pm

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Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas rocked the SXSW Film Festival with the premiere of 'Power Ballad,' a music-themed comedy film directed by John Carney. The movie follows Rick Power (Rudd), a wedding band singer who stumbles into a late-night jam session with former boy band star Danny (Jonas) and reignites his passion for songwriting. However, Danny ends up stealing one of Rick's songs and turning it into a hit, leading Rick on a quest to reclaim the recognition he deserves.

Why it matters

The film explores themes of artistic integrity, friendship, and the challenges faced by musicians trying to find success in the industry. As a former member of the Jonas Brothers, Nick Jonas' role in the film provides an interesting parallel to his own experiences in the music business.

The details

The film features several drunken duets between Rudd and Jonas after the former offers the latter some marijuana. Jonas warned the audience, 'Be careful who you share a blunt with.' Jonas said he was drawn to the script after hearing it was about 'a wedding singer and a former boy band member turned solo artist trying to find himself.' Rudd was attracted to the film because, like his character, he is the father of a teenage daughter and a 'huge music fan.'

  • The film premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival on March 14, 2026.

The players

Paul Rudd

An American actor known for his roles in films such as 'Ant-Man,' 'Clueless,' and 'Anchorman.'

Nick Jonas

An American singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a member of the pop rock band Jonas Brothers.

John Carney

An Irish filmmaker known for directing music-themed films such as 'Once' and 'Sing Street.'

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What they’re saying

“Be careful who you share a blunt with.”

— Nick Jonas

“Outside of the more obvious themes … one of the things that I was really drawn to is this idea of how many rooms I've been in as a songwriter where it could have gone one way or the other — success and failure and everything between — and moments where your character is called into question.”

— Nick Jonas

“This is a guy who has a real desire to do something and express himself and has a dream. There are certain things that are unrealized, and he's faced disappointment. These are things that are very relatable, so the character really meant something to me.”

— Paul Rudd

What’s next

The film is expected to have a wider theatrical release later in 2026 after its SXSW premiere.

The takeaway

The film 'Power Ballad' explores the challenges and complexities of the music industry, with Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd delivering compelling performances as two artists at different stages of their careers who come together in an unexpected way.