Ryan Coogler Declines ‘Sinners’ Sequel to Preserve Its Standalone Legacy

Despite ‘Sinners’ achieving critical acclaim and surpassing $350 million globally, director Ryan Coogler affirms his commitment to original storytelling, choosing not to pursue a sequel to his deeply personal supernatural thriller.

Ryan Coogler, renowned for directing blockbuster franchises like Black Panther and Creed, has announced he will not be creating a sequel to his latest film, Sinners. In a recent interview with Ebony Magazine, Coogler expressed that he “never” considered a follow-up to the film, emphasizing his desire to move away from franchise filmmaking.

“I’ve been in a space of making franchise films for a bit, so I wanted to get away from that,” Coogler explained. “I was looking forward to working on a film that felt original and personal to me and had an appetite for delivering something to audiences that was original and unique.”

Coogler described Sinners as a “full meal,” aiming for a holistic and complete narrative experience. He elaborated in a conversation with Variety, stating, “This film is very much me. I love anything supernatural. I’m in. I like stories about communities, about neighborhoods, about archetypes. And I love period anything. So, when you layer those things together, that does it for me.”

Sinners, set in 1932 Mississippi, follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, as they return home to open a music hall, only to face a vampire threat. The film has been a commercial success, grossing over $350 million worldwide, making it one of the top ten highest-grossing films of 2025.

Despite its success, Coogler remains steadfast in his decision to keep Sinners as a standalone piece, focusing instead on original storytelling that resonates personally with him.

Sinners is set for digital release on June 3, 2025, featuring over 90 minutes of exclusive content, including behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes.