When Ryan Coogler began developing his latest film “Sinners,” he knew one role would be particularly key: that of Sammie, the teenage cousin of Michael B. Jordan’s gangster twins Smoke and Stack.
Sammie is a young sharecropper and the son of a local preacher, but he dreams of becoming a blues musician, so the twins recruit him to perform at their new juke joint. There, his preternatural musical ability sets off a chain of supernatural events. It was a tricky part to cast, requiring a performer who could sing as powerfully as they deliver drama.
Coogler and casting director Francine Maisler fielded audition tapes from all over the world — some from musicians who’d never acted before, others from actors who’d never played music and everything in between. But one teenager’s tape stood out.
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“He was just in the dark — like he didn’t turn his lights on. Something about that was, like, so intriguing,” Coogler tells Variety. “This kid looked like he was in his basement, like in between homework assignments. But he had this voice — a once in a lifetime voice — and he also felt like the character.”
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That kid was Miles Caton.
And what Coogler didn’t know was that Caton is a child prodigy, the son of gospel singer Timiney Figueroa, and he’s been performing since he was a toddler. His powerhouse vocals have attracted the attention of gospel greats like Fred Hammond, Faith Evans, Erica Campbell and Bishop TD Jakes, as well as Oscar- and Grammy-winner H.E.R., who enlisted Caton to join her on tour all before he’d finished high school.
“You could just tell the kid was special — like, as a person,” Coogler says about digging deeper into Caton’s background. “He was a good enough singer that he didn’t have to finish high school, but he did anyway. There was something to that. I was like, ‘Oh, man, we’ve gotta bring this kid in.’”
Even though we’re meeting over Zoom, from the second Caton pops up on screen, it’s obvious what Coogler is talking about. The young star, who turned 20 just before the “Sinners” press tour kicked off, is dressed down in a black bomber jacket, rimless glasses and a Yankees ballcap. He’s youthful but has gravitas. He’s a seasoned performer, but he’s also humble about stepping into a new medium. (Caton acted in a school play and he’d shot a short film, but he’d never done anything quite like what “Sinners” required.) Above all, he’s really excited about starring in his first movie.
“I’m overwhelmed. It’s still hard to process,” Caton says, grinning as he explains that he saw the finished film a few days prior. “It’s different filming than getting to see it on the actual screen. I was like, ‘Damn, that’s me!'”
Here, Caton reflects on the whirlwind experience of making his big screen debut with “Sinners,” which hits theaters on April 18, and what he learned from entering Coogler and Jordan’s orbit.
Did you dream of becoming an actor?
I’ve always been like the family clown, always trying to make people laugh. So, I guess subconsciously, acting was something I always thought I would do. But I never imagined something like this would present itself at this time. So I’m just excited to be in this moment.
How did you get on their radar?
I grew up singing, and I had the opportunity to go on tour and sing background for H.E.R. when I was 16 years old, and we traveled all around the world. We got close — she became like a big sister to me — and she called me one day after we got back from tour, and she was like, “Bro, somebody was in the crowd watching you, and they want you to audition for this role. I think you’ll be dope.” I was like, “OK,” not really knowing what to expect. I did the audition, got a call back, and then sent in a couple of videos of me playing. A couple weeks later, I got the call, and that was it.
This was a top-secret project. How much did they tell you about it?
When I first got the script, it was like a tiny side [about] a kid playing the guitar and I read a couple of lines. I didn’t know everything I do now, but I was like, I’m just gonna try and see where it goes. Then actually getting the whole script was just like, wow!
Once I got the role, they sent everything over, and I was blown away.
So, you were just going on faith …
We were going on faith! Ryan is a guy I’ve looked up to; he doesn’t have a bad film, so I was like, I know I’m gonna be good.
What did you admire about Ryan’s work?
What he brings to film is always so interesting. He makes it his own; he finds a way to always bring the culture in and ties everything together. From “Black Panther” to “Creed” to “Fruitvale Station,” it’s always heartfelt. You can always feel the film.
What did y’all talk about the first time you met?
The first time I spoke to him was on a Zoom call, and we just got to know each other. He told me he was from Oakland, and I told him I was from New York, and we just chopped it up about the role and the opportunity. It was dope.
Were you nervous or excited?
I was excited! I’m like, “Yo, this is Ryan Coogler!” Like, this is a dream come true. He told me about the role, and he said, “I think you’re the guy for it.”
What was that like to hear? You’ve never acted, but he saw something in you.
That meant a lot. It was just surreal. But I feel like, when it’s your time, it’s your time. You’ve just gotta be ready, and you’ve gotta show up.
How did you prepare to play this role?
We started preparation two months before filming. I had to learn how to play blues guitar, so I worked for two months with Randy Bowland. He’s an incredible touring guitarist and taught me the fundamentals.
Then, I worked with a dialect and acting coach, Beth McGuire (who also works with Jordan), to understand the Mississippi dialect and learn all the nuances of the sound.
How many hours did you work on that blues guitar?
Probably, like five to six hours every day. I got calluses!
What do you remember about your first day on set? Who was your scene with?
Day one was crazy. Just getting used to all the moving parts was a lot, but I was like, “Yo, I’m really here.” I was a little nervous, but I spoke to Ryan about it, and he was like, “Bro, just be yourself. Do you and you’re going to be good.” And after that, we just got into [the scene] with Michael B. Jordan.
What was it like to look over and realize you’re about to do a scene with Michael B. Jordan?
That was incredible. Mike is a great person, man. He’s always supported me and has just been a dope person throughout the whole process. He’s always willing to give me advice and help me with different acting techniques.
But filming that day was crazy. I was like, “I gotta bring my A-game. I gotta be on point.” So, I memorized all my lines. I practiced over and over. One thing that I learned was that you can’t be afraid to make mistakes. Mike taught me that it’s about being present and having a conversation within the scene.
You hadn’t acted before, but you have been singing since you were … how old?
Like three years old. Ever since I can remember. The singing and musical aspects of the film were something that I already knew I had in my wheelhouse. I still prepared for that, but the focus was on the acting and making sure I was doing my best.
You’re not only featured singing as your character in the movie, but you also contributed an original track. What was it like writing music inspired by the film?
Man, that was special. I didn’t expect that to happen, but it’s really a blessing. I got to work with the incredible composer Ludwig Göransson — he’s the G.O.A.T. — and Alice Smith — she’s an incredible artist. We wrote a song together, and I can’t wait for y’all to hear it.
Did the lyrics or the music come first? What is your process?
With this project, the music came first, and then we based the lyrics off the whole vibe and the heartfelt subjects of the movie.
Is it fair to say that you, like Sammie, are a preacher’s kid?
I grew up in church. My grandfather’s a pastor, so that’s a big part of [who I am]. I relate to Sammie a lot. His upbringing and the whole religious aspect of growing, not just as a man, but also growing in your faith, how you view the world, and how you move in it.
“Sinners,” like every movie Ryan Coogler makes, has so many layers to it thematically. But it’s still a vampire movie, so it’s action-packed, scary and intense. How was it getting into the darkness?
I grew up watching a lot of scary movies — “Friday the 13th,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “A Vampire in Brooklyn” with Eddie Murphy — so that stuff never really bothered me. Those were kinds of things that were in my head coming into this project.
It was incredible to get on set and see the whole scene — like, from reading the script and then seeing how everything works with all the props, it just makes it feel real. Getting to see the special effects was pretty cool.
What does your family think about your acting debut? What is it like for them to see you live this dream?
My family has invested in and poured into me my whole life, so this is special for them to see me reach something like this. I’m extremely blessed to have them in my life. Everybody’s been super supportive, lifting me up and also keeping me grounded.
You are only 20, and you’ve accomplished a lot, but it is just the beginning. What does the future look like? Have you been bitten by the acting bug?
I think so. Before, my main thing was music and just being an artist. But now, having this under my belt, I feel like I don’t have to limit myself to just one thing. I feel like I can accomplish whatever I want to. So, I’m looking to get into some more acting roles.
Do you have a type of movie you’d like to star in? You mentioned you were kind of the clown of the family, so, comedy?
I love comedy. Action. Adventure. I’m a big Marvel fan. Marvel, that’s top of the top, so shooting for the stars.
Which superhero do you want to play?
I mean, my name is Miles…
