Director behind 3.4 million-ticket hit 'Begin Again' returns with 'Sing Again,' a plagiarism drama opening on the 2nd of next month

John Carney returns with 'Sing Again,' a stolen masterpiece following his 3.4 million-ticket hit

A strange night between an unknown band and a pop star — and a stolen masterpiece

John Carney, director of 'Begin Again', which captivated 3.4 million moviegoers in South Korea, returns with a provocative music film that probes the darker side of creativity. Distributor By4M Studio officially announced that Carney's new film, 'Sing Again' ('Power Ballad'), will open in South Korean theaters on the 2nd of next month.

The film follows the escalating battle over the truth between unknown singer Rick Power (Paul Rudd) and faded pop star Danny Wilson (Nick Jonas) over a single song. Rick, who has settled in Dublin, Ireland, and makes a living playing with a band that specializes in wedding songs, crosses paths with Danny by chance. The two share a musical spark and spend a fateful night together.

But Rick's peaceful life shatters the moment he hears Danny's newly released megahit, 'How to Write a Song (Without You)'. The song is actually an unreleased original that Rick had once shared with Danny in good faith.

A master's eye on the essence of creativity — an ensemble of Hollywood stars

Rick finds himself in a desperate situation with no physical evidence to prove the song is his. As Danny heads to the United States to confront Rick in person, the conflict between the two men reaches a boiling point. The film draws a stark contrast between Rick, who gave up the spotlight to support his family, and Danny, who wanders aimlessly, trapped in the glory of his past. It poses a weighty question about the essence of creativity. Through finely drawn psychological portraits, the film explores how the same melody takes on different forms for two artists whose lives have followed entirely different paths.

John Carney, who directs the film, is widely recognized as a master of the music film. He broke through the limits of independent cinema with 'Once' (2007), which drew 200,000 moviegoers and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, then followed it with back-to-back hits including 'Begin Again' (2014) and 'Sing Street' (2016). The powerful acting chemistry between Paul Rudd, best known for playing 'Ant-Man' in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Nick Jonas, a former member of the global boy band Jonas Brothers, is drawing attention from critics and audiences around the world.