"Sinners" New Trailer: Michael B. Jordan Battles Vampires in Ryan Coogler's New Swampy Southern Horror Thriller
'Black Panther' director Ryan Coogler takes a bold step into horror starring Michael B. Jordan as twins fighting vampires in the Prohibition South.
2025 is shaping up to be a solid year for horror films. But one film that has really raised people's eyebrows comes from a filmmaker who isn't usually associated with horror. Ryan Coogler, who has spent the last several years working with Marvel Studios to establish the world of Wakanda in the MCU with the hugely successful Black Panther franchise, is stepping away from superheroes momentarily as he gives the horror genre a spin.
Sinners is Coogler's first original film project since his 2013 debut, Fruitvale Station. However, even that movie was based on a tragic true story, so one could argue that this new horror film is technically Coogler's first entirely original feature. He wrote, directed, and produced the film with his own production team. In fact, Warner Bros. secured the rights to Sinners in a bidding war with other studios, reportedly with the condition that Coogler would regain certain rights to the film after a set period of time. This is a rare thing for filmmakers, especially when IP ownership has become such a hot commodity, normally held by the studios in perpetuity.
So, what kind of film is it that has Hollywood buzzing and horror fans so excited? First off, it stars Michael B. Jordan, who takes on the dual roles of twin brothers. The film is set in the Jim Crow South during the Prohibition era. But the big surprise is that it's a vampire flick, finally revealed in this new full-length trailer, released today.
Jordan stars as Elijah and Elias Smoke, twin brothers who have just returned home after a stint in the criminal underworld. Now, with the intent of leaving their criminal past behind, Elijah and Elias plan to open a speakeasy dance hall at a local barn. However, to truly succeed, they must be willing to welcome all elements of society, allowing people of every race, creed, and color to join in the music and celebration. The thing is, if the party gets too good, it could attract the wrong kind of element. And if the music is too sexy and sweaty—well, they might as well be inviting the devil himself to come on by.
Elijah and Elias find themselves in that exact situation: They throw a bash so wild and enticing that a small group of mysterious locals show up to see what all the fuss is about, only to reveal themselves as bloodsucking vampires. And they're looking to have some real fun tonight.
But there's also an added layer to this sexy vampire gore fest. Set in the Jim Crow South and centered mostly around African American characters and other minorities in this swampy southern town, the idea of becoming a vampire becomes a seductive and persuasive one. It represents power to the powerless and offers a form of revenge to those seeking vengeance. We see this dynamic play out in the newly released trailer as twin brothers Elijah and Elias find themselves on opposite sides of a battle for survival. One is determined to save the community, while the other has given in to the darkness and wants to burn it all down.
Joining Michael B. Jordan is a stellar cast that includes Jack O'Connell (Godless, SAS: Rogue Heroes), Hailee Steinfeld (Hawkeye, Bumblebee), Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods), Jayme Lawson (Til, The Woman King), Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country, Loki), Omar Benson Miller (Ballers), Li Jun Li (Wu Assassins, Babylon), and Lola Kirke (Mozart in the Jungle).
Marking only his fifth feature film, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler will be offering this swampy vampire thriller before you know it, so have your stakes ready. Sinners hits theaters March 7th.
