“I think people need heroes who don’t wear capes”: Craig Brewer on Song Sung Blue

A film dedicated to a small-town Neil Diamond tribute act might not be the music biopic you’d expect to strike a chord in 2026. And yet, Craig Brewer’s (Hustle & Flow, Footloose) Song Sung Blue, inspired by a true story and based on a 2009 documentary, hits you in all the feels. Set in Milwaukee, it follows working-class couple, Mike and Claire, whose shared love of music helps them find joy, meaning, love and connection, taking us fluidly between soaring musical highs and the rock-bottom lows of their emotional lives.

The casting, in particular, feels inspired. Hugh Jackman brings the charisma, stage presence and musical prowess we’ve seen on display in The Greatest Showman, but here it’s paired with a vulnerability and emotional depth rarely given airtime on screen. Alongside him, Kate Hudson channels something of Penny Lane from cult classic Almost Famous, yet this performance allows her talent to shine more fully, from her singing to the fragility she brings to a character grappling with doubt and self-worth. The film’s unvarnished aesthetic – from dive bars and garages to worn interiors, visible wrinkles and gloriously tacky costumes – strips away Hollywood gloss to reveal something far more authentic, while its immersive musical sequences capture how music can elevate the everyday into something magical.

The Upcoming had an in-depth chat with Brewer, who reflected on why the story stayed with him for more than a decade after seeing the doc and his continued interest in telling stories about “heroes who don’t wear capes”. He discussed the long journey of developing the story for the screen, why Jackman was always the only choice, and how Hudson fought to be filmed “real and raw”. Brewer also talked about approaching the musical numbers as full concert experiences, rather than merely superficial montages, joked about the running gag of everyone just wanting most recognisable hit Sweet Caroline, offered a brief lesson in how to pronounce the more nice Soléon, and why Song Sung Blue isn’t just for Neil Diamond fans – but an education for those who think they aren’t.

Sarah Bradbury

Song Sung Blue is released nationwide on 1^st January 2026.

Watch the trailer for Song Sung Blue here: