Summary

Collider’s Michael Zimmermann talks with stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue.

Jackman and Hudson star as Mike and Claire Sardina, who form a Neil Diamond tribute band.

The pair discuss how they recorded in-studio and sang live on set to capture intimate, energetic performances.

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson dust off their microphones and get back to their singing roots in Song Sung Blue, a true love story between two people who came together to form a Neil Diamond tribute band called Lightning and Thunder. Directed by Craig Brewer (Footloose, Coming 2 America), Song Sung Blue isn’t just about a cover band — it explores the powerful bond that music can create between two people. Jackman and Hudson, who play Mike and Claire Sardina, performed live and recorded in-studio to create the soundtrack of the film. The combination of pre-recorded tracks and live takes allowed Brewer to weave the best parts from each together to create intimate and energetic performances. The movie also stars King Princess, Ella Anderson, Michael Imperioli, and Jim Belushi. Check out the full conversation with Collider’s Michael Zimmermann in the video above or the transcript below, where Jackman and Hudson talk about the benefits of recording in-studio prior to filming, the unspoken connection between their characters, the most difficult scene to shoot, and share their favorite films from Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and Stanley Kubrick.
The Most Challenging Scene Was Surrounded by the Entire Crew

“It was so cool for us because I know you had a really difficult day.”

Image via Focus Features

I know you two both recorded in the studio before you even got on set. How did recording these songs in the studio dictate your performances once you got on set? KATE HUDSON: Well, actually, what was really great about it was it was really to set the tracks down for us to be able to sing to. It wasn’t to be perfect. And one of the things that Craig really highlighted for us was, don’t worry about this being perfect. You can always come back in here. We’re going to find each other and find out what the sound is of us. And then it just happened so great that we never went back in the studio. We’re able to get to know each other. And we enjoyed singing together. And it was a wonderful icebreaking experience to then go and actually film the movie and have had that with each other. HUGH JACKMAN: We sang live too, because, you know, obviously this is a movie with music, not a musical. So all the performances are somewhere on stage. And it had to feel like they’re really in a pub. I just love it when you laugh in the middle of a song, and obviously we hadn’t recorded, [Craig] was using both, he was cherry picking. Was there a particular sequence or song that was most difficult to shoot? JACKMAN: The one bit where it was live, and that was the “Play Me” section after the first day. HUDSON: I think the dream sequence for me was the most challenging, because there was a lot of moving parts and trying to figure out going from that singing into finding [Mike]. JACKMAN: It was really all that sequence because it wasn’t our actual last day, but our last day didn’t have everyone there. And Craig gave us these wrap gifts and it was like a big day. And it was really our last night of shooting. And so it was so cool for us because I know you had a really difficult day, but we were all getting to watch this performance and the whole crew were there and it was really cool because you were phenomenal.
Developing a Bond Created by Dreams and Music

“We don’t really see stories like that anymore.”

I want to talk about Mike and Claire’s dynamic. What about them, their past, their ambitions create this innate understanding of music between the two? JACKMAN: You see them fall in love, singing together before they’ve even kissed. It’s their souls meet. That’s who they are. They’ve got music in them and that’s their life. I think that’s what’s so cool about these two. And music really defines him in many ways. HUDSON: Oh it’s everything. There’s something about when you’re musical and you meet someone else who is. It’s a language you speak that when someone else speaks the same language, it just brings you even closer. There’s a more intimate connection. It’s very rare as well. Do you ever get that feeling where you’re listening to a song or an artist, and you feel something and it’s so hard to explain? But then there is that one person who just totally gets that. I felt that between Mike and Claire. HUDSON: It’s literally just a feeling. I think Claire just loved Mike so much. In watching the documentary, she just believed in him and everything that he was as an artist and a man. She just literally would give anything, she just loved him so much. And I think that was a big one for me, too, which is that she looked up to him. JACKMAN: You know what I was thinking last night? I was watching the movie last night. What I love about this love story, when they first meet you can see him looking at her going, “This is what I need. She’s going to help me get what I want. We’re going to come together and we’re going to do this.” There’s something selfish about it for Mike in the beginning, but he recognizes something about her, and then they start dating. But by the end, when they’re at the bottom of the stairs. It’s like it was actually [Claire is] it. Not the music, not Neil Diamond, none of that. It’s just you are everything. And I love that story of love. It started out as this person’s going to help me achieve all the things I want. HUDSON: We don’t really see stories like that anymore. They’re very selfless with each other there. Even though they go through the things that they go through, they can’t do it without each other. What a refreshing thing to see. The love stories you see are almost the opposite. Everybody’s searching for their own identity, but [Mike and Claire] have this identity together that they can’t let go of. It’s nice.
Reminiscing on Favorite Films From Spielberg, Nolan, and Kubrick

“I’m in it, and I know it sounds weird, but The Prestige is a great movie.”

Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier looking at a person offscreen in The PrestigeImage via Warner Bros. Pictures

Something we’ve been asking everybody — And, Hugh, I know you worked with him on The Prestige, but do either of you have a favorite Christopher Nolan movie? HUDSON: I mean, Inception. JACKMAN: The Dark Knight. HUDSON: Dark Knight is so great, but over Inception? I mean, look, Oppenheimer. JACKMAN: I’m in it, and I know it sounds weird, but The Prestige is a great movie. HUDSON: He doesn’t know how to make a bad movie. What about Spielberg? Do you have a favorite of his?

HUDSON and JACKMAN: E.T. HUDSON: But I’m going to go with The Sugarland Express because I’m biased and my mother is in it and it’s her best performance of all time and one of my favorite movies of his. And he just did like a re-issue of it and it holds up. It’s such a great movie. And there’s this really cute picture of them, roller skating together during that time. JACKMAN: E.T. is big. Raiders [of the Lost Ark] is big. HUDSON: I mean, that’s another one.

the-prestige-christian-bale-social-featureImage via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Related

Why ‘The Prestige’ Is One of Christopher Nolan’s Best Films

Are you watching closely?

And then finally Stanley Kubrick. Any favorites of his? HUDSON: Oh I would say I’m going to go with Clockwork [Orange]. JACKMAN: Same. I just watched it the other day. Song Sung Blue premieres in theaters on December 25.

Song Sung Blue

Release Date

December 25, 2025

Runtime

132 minutes

Director

Craig Brewer

Writers

Craig Brewer