Ryan Coogler

“With this job, I get to just be creative in contemplating my uncle and contemplating my grandfather and unabashedly reach for that connection while making something. And what was great about it was once we took the script out and got a studio home, we crewed up, other people would bring their stories to it as well. I’ll hear about my cinematographers family in Louisiana, or Mike’s family in Arkansas. It became a group effort, this practice of contemplation and remembrance.”

-Ryan Coogler, episode 447 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso

When it comes to the theatrical experience, director Ryan Coogler is in rarified air these days. From Creed to Black Panther to Wakanda Forever, his movies arrive as seismic commercial and cultural events. His latest, Sinners, was no exception when it came out in IMAX last spring. And with 16 Oscar nominations, Coogler’s blues-steeped vampire epic has now become the most-nominated film in Academy history.

Together, we trace how the seeds of Sinners were planted during the making of Wakanda Forever (5:36), the family history interwoven throughout the movie (9:00), and a formative memory seeing John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood with his father (15:20). Then, we talk about his pivot from football to filmmaking (17:30), the early belief and partnership of his wife, Zinzi (22:00), and why his debut Fruitvale Station stands the test of time (26:07).

On the back-half, Coogler reflects on a piece of advice that shaped how he leads a set (31:18), the “Faustian bargain” he confronted as an artist (34:00), and the uncle whose encouragement carried him through moments of doubt (35:50). To close, a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman (37:30), Coogler’s thoughts on AI and the future of Hollywood (42:00), and a love letter to moviegoing (48:36).