John Carney's 'Letras Robadas' explores plagiarism in music industry

John Carney, known for 'Once' and 'Begin Again', returns to musical cinema with 'Letras Robadas' (Stolen Lyrics), a dramatic comedy about plagiarism and friendship. The film stars Paul Rudd as Rick, a struggling singer-songwriter performing at weddings in Ireland, and Nick Jonas as Danny, a pampered pop superstar. After a chance meeting and a night of bonding over shared musical tastes, Danny releases a hit single that Rick claims was plagiarized from his own song. The story follows Rick's David-versus-Goliath battle against Danny's industry-backed success, as doubt about the song's origin grows. The screenplay by Peter McDonald is praised for its tight construction and believable staging. The film features the key song 'How to Write a Song', which embeds itself in the viewer's memory. Cast includes Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Havana Rose Liu, and Jack Reynor. Cinematography by Yaron Orbach, music by John Carney and Gary Clark. The film is set in Ireland and has a runtime of 98 minutes, releasing in 2026.