Before 'Camp Rock 3,' Nick Jonas Is Giving a Little Bit of Heart and Soul in First Look at 'Power Ballad'

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_Power-Ballad-Feature (1) Image via Lionsgate

Published May 25, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT

In over three years at Collider, senior author Jake has now penned over 3000 articles covering a wide range of TV and film for the resources, lists, utilities, news, and interview teams. Alongside interviewing stars such as Selin Hizli, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Harlan Coben, and Chelsea Peretti, Jake was lucky enough to visit the set of Aardman and Netflix's Wallace and Gromit: A Vengeance Most Fowl in 2024, getting the chance to chat with four-time Academy Award winner Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham. Jake has also worked for other publications, including Agents of Fandom. You can also hear Jake every week as the resident film and TV journalist on Track Radio

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Marvel fans can't wait for Doomsday. In the first major Avengers team-up since Endgame, the MCU is hitting new heights with a cast list for the upcoming December 18 blockbuster that reads like a who's who of modern Hollywood. From new arrivals to the franchise, such as 2025's Fantastic Four (Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach), to classic Marvel alumni, including Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Tom Hiddleston​​​​​, and more, the ensemble is nothing short of jaw-dropping.

The smallest hero with the funniest one-liners, Ant-Man, is also joining the Doomsday line-up, although star Paul Rudd has an enticing musical movie to come first. The film in question is Power Ballad, the latest musical comedy from a master of the genre, John Carney, who is most famous for his Oscar-winning gem Once, 2013’s Begin Again, and the modern cult hit Sing Street. Rudd stars opposite Camp Rock favorite and pop sensation Nick Jonas, who is portraying the familiar role of a former boy band member attempting to find solo success.

"Rick Power, wedding singer, meets washed-up former boy band singer, Danny Wilson, at a wedding one night and bonds with him over a jam session," a synopsis for the movie reads. "After the jam session, Danny steals one of Rick's songs, and it becomes a number one hit that brings Danny back into popularity, leading to Rick seeking out revenge and recognition." A tale that's rooted in the disparity between the music of yesteryear and the music of today, and the attitude differences between the two, Power Ballad is already earning rave reviews. As part of Collider's Exclusive Summer Preview Event, we can bring you the exclusive image below of Power Ballad, ahead of its May 29 limited release and June 5 wide expansion.

Classic Rock Personality Quiz Who's Your Perfect
Classic Rock Band?
A Personality Quiz · 10 Questions Five legendary bands. One perfect match. Answer 10 questions about your personality, attitude, and taste to find out which classic rock icon you truly belong with. Are you raw power, rolling swagger, operatic drama, thunderous riffs, or timeless melody?

AC/DC

👅Rolling Stones

🤘Metallica

👑Queen

🎸The Beatles

Begin Quiz →

01

How do you walk into a room? Choose the answer that feels most like you.

ALike a freight train — loud, fast, and everyone knows I've arrived. BWith a slow, cool swagger — I take my time and own every step. CHead down, focused — I'm here for a purpose and small talk isn't it. DWith total confidence and a flair for the dramatic — all eyes on me. EWarmly and curiously — genuinely excited to see what and who is here.

Next Question →

02

What does your ideal Friday night look like?

ALoud bar, cold beer, cranked jukebox — the louder the better. BA smoky club, good company, and doing whatever feels right in the moment. CIntense concert or staying in with headphones — nothing in between. DSomething theatrical — a show, a dinner party, an experience worth remembering. EHanging with close friends, maybe making music, keeping it relaxed and genuine.

Next Question →

03

What's your philosophy on keeping things simple vs. complex?

ASimple is king. A great riff repeated perfectly beats any amount of cleverness. BKeep it loose and bluesy — the groove matters more than technical perfection. CGo deep and dark — I want layers, tension, and something that hits hard. DWhy not both? Elaborate arrangements and hook-driven anthems can coexist. ECraft every detail — a perfect melody is the result of countless small choices.

Next Question →

04

How would your friends describe your personal style?

ANo-frills, no-nonsense — jeans, a t-shirt, and ready to go. BEffortlessly cool — slightly dishevelled in a way that somehow always works. CDark and deliberate — black is a lifestyle, not just a colour. DBold and expressive — fashion is a form of performance for me. EClean and classic — timeless over trendy, always put-together.

Next Question →

05

How do you want to be remembered?

AAs someone who never let the energy drop — relentless, loud, and alive. BAs someone who lived fully and on my own terms, unapologetically. CAs someone who was brutally honest and made music that meant something real. DAs someone who transcended genres, boundaries, and expectations entirely. EAs someone who changed the world — and left it genuinely better than I found it.

Next Question →

06

What kind of crowd do you want around you?

APeople who are there to have a blast — no pretension, just pure fun and noise. BA mix of rebels and free spirits who don't take themselves too seriously. CA loyal, passionate crew who are all in — intensity over numbers every time. DEveryone — I want to unite people who wouldn't normally be in the same room. EPeople who appreciate craft and feel genuinely connected by the music.

Next Question →

07

If you were writing a song, what would it be about?

AHaving a good time, turning it up, and not overthinking it. BStreet life, desire, and the rawness of being human. CAnger, grief, war, or the darker side of the world — music as a weapon. DSomething epic and emotional — love, loss, triumph, or pure fantasy. ESomething personal and universal at once — a feeling everyone can recognise.

Next Question →

08

What's your secret to staying relevant over time?

ANever change the formula — if it works, it works. Consistency is everything. BStay hungry, stay dangerous, and always keep a bit of that rebellious edge. CEarn respect through dedication — the work and the live show speak for themselves. DReinvent constantly — never let anyone put you in a box or predict your next move. EWrite songs so good they can't be ignored, in any decade, in any context.

Next Question →

09

You're playing to 80,000 people. What does your performance look like?

AA wall of sound and sweat — pure, unfiltered energy from first note to last. BLoose, cool, and dangerous — every song feels like it might fall apart but never does. CBrutal precision — tight, powerful, and leaving no one unmoved. DA full spectacle — lights, costumes, vocal acrobatics, and total theatrical command. EWarm, joyful, and tight — the crowd singing every word back at you.

Next Question →

10

Pick the word that best sums up your relationship with rock music. This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.

ARaw — stripped back, high-voltage, no frills. BRolling — fluid, dangerous, built on blues and attitude. CHeavy — powerful, honest, uncompromising. DMajestic — theatrical, boundary-defying, unforgettable. ETimeless — melodic, human, built to last forever.

See My Result →

Your Result Your Perfect Band Is Revealed

Based on your personality, energy, and taste, the classic rock band that matches your soul is…

⚡ AC/DC

You are pure, undiluted rock energy. You don't need tricks, trends, or theatrical gimmicks — you have something more powerful: a riff that hits like a thunderbolt and an attitude that never wavers. Like AC/DC, you understand that simplicity executed with absolute conviction is its own form of genius. You're the person in the room who doesn't overthink it, doesn't pretend, and never turns the volume down. The highway to hell is a state of mind — and you've been on it since day one.

👅 The Rolling Stones

You've got swagger that can't be taught. Rooted in the blues and soaked in street-level attitude, you move through life with a loose, dangerous elegance that draws people in without ever trying too hard. Like the Stones, you've seen it all, done most of it, and somehow look better for it. You're not chasing perfection — you're chasing truth, groove, and that electric moment when everything clicks. Can't always get what you want? You tend to get it anyway.

👑 Queen

You are magnificent, and you know it — not from arrogance, but from an unshakeable sense of self that has never needed anyone's permission. Like Queen, you defy every category people try to place you in. You blend the epic with the intimate, the operatic with the anthemic, the serious with the playful. You live boldly, love fiercely, and perform every aspect of your life as though the whole world is watching. Because sometimes it is. We are the champions — and so are you.

🎸 The Beatles

You have the rarest of gifts: the ability to make something that feels both deeply personal and universally human. Like The Beatles, you're a natural connector — someone whose warmth, curiosity, and creative instincts draw people together across every divide. You believe in melody, in craftsmanship, and in the quiet power of a song that says exactly what someone needed to hear. You've changed the people around you just by being who you are. All you need is love — and you give it generously.

↩ Retake Quiz

Who Else Stars in 'Power Ballad'?

Power-Ballad-Watermark (1)

The latest in a long line of must-watch Rudd movies — and yet another in which he is flexing his underrated musical musclesPower Ballad also features an eye-catching ensemble cast. This includes the aforementioned Jonas ahead of the return of Camp Rock, Havana Rose Liu (Bottoms, Lurker), Jack Reynor (Midsommar, Lee Cronin's The Mummy), Peter McDonald (The Batman, Saipan), Sophie Vavasseur (Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Flora and Son), Beth Fallon, and Marcella Plunkett.

Power Ballad hits theaters on May 29 for a limited run, and expands wide on June 5. Stay tuned for more previews of the hottest upcoming film and TV projects here at Collider.

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Release Date May 29, 2026

Runtime 98 minutes

Director John Carney

Writers Peter McDonald, John Carney

Producers Anthony Bregman, John Carney, Peter Cron, Rebecca O'Flanagan, Robert Walpole

Cast

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