In a Hollywood obsessed with sequels, spinoffs, and cinematic universes, Ryan Coogler did something unusual and said no. No, not even after 'Sinners,' his genre-warping supernatural thriller about twin vampires (starring Michael B. Jordan as both) that blew up the box office and went on to become the only original film to make the top 10 list of 2025's highest-grossing movies.
In a recent conversation with Ebony, the Black Panther director shared a lot about why he's leaving 'Sinners,' even after his monster successes with the film. "I've been in a space of making franchise films for a bit, so I wanted to get away from that," Coogler said. "I was excited about doing something original and personal to me in a film."
'Sinners' was never meant to be the beginning of a story for him, but it was the entire story, a start, middle, and end rolled into one cinematic film. Or, as Coogler, more appetizingly, described it: "I wanted the movie to have an emulsification, basically like when you make a sauce or a dressing, and you make sure everything's incorporated in the right way." I wanted everything there and to be a complete, holistic thing."
There might have been a temptation to strike. Still, at the same time, the iron is hot, especially after reteaming with long-time creative partner Michael B. Jordan for such a wild, visionary ride. But Coogler is staying true to the film's original vision: a one-and-done journey that doesn't require a coda to feel satisfying.
That may surprise fans of Coogler, who have seen him direct some of the decade's most iconic franchises. He made a splash with the 2013 heartbreaker Fruitvale Station, which also featured Jordan. He followed up with Creed, resurrecting the Rocky franchise, and then Black Panther, which not only broke records but also changed culture.
So yeah, the guy knows a thing or two about a franchise. But that's not what he wanted with 'Sinners.' Something liberated from the burden of sequeldom." Something profoundly human and original, even in its supernatural setting.
It's not as if Coogler is eschewing big storytelling entirely. His dance card is complete, with projects like Wrong Answer, a reunion with Jordan, and Eyes of Wakanda, a Disney+ spinoff that broadens the Marvel universe he helped shape. Not to mention the rumored reprisal for a third Black Panther.
But the takeaway is plain: 'Sinners' was never intended to be franchised, merchandised, or worn thin over several years. It was a story, as Coogler believed it should be told whole, entire, and unforgettable.
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