Sinners stars praise Black Panther director for "beautiful, beautiful environment" on set of his new genre-bending vampire horror: "He's such an inspiration"

Ryan Coogler's new movie Sinners may be led by his longtime collaborator Michael B. Jordan, but the Black Panther director welcomed a bunch of fresh faces along for the ride in supporting roles.

In a new interview with GamesRadar+, Miles Caton, who plays Sammie 'Preacher Boy' Moore and Jack O'Connell, who stars as vampire antagonist Remmick, describe the filmmaker as "an inspiration", having created "a beautiful, beautiful environment" on set that encourages actors to take risks.

"I feel like the big thing on set [was] like, 'Man, I don't know if there's going to be an experience like this moving forward,'" Caton explains with a grin. "[Ryan] set the bar so high. He's such an inspiration, just seeing the type of person he is on set; he's a leader, he's there with us every day, you know? It's not like he's just off to the side, he's really embedded in each scene and making sure that we have everything we need to give the best performance.

"Just having someone like that, every day, just constantly motivating me and pushing me to go forward and not be scared to, you know, make certain choices?" the musician-turned-actor added. "I'm excited to see what's next, man."

O'Connell was similarly praising, recalling how Coogler "cultivates this amazing atmosphere on set where you feel like anything goes and anything's welcome. It's encouraged, and it's a beautiful, beautiful environment, man."

Also starring Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, and Hailee Steinfeld, Sinners follows Jordan's twin brothers Elijah, also known as Smoke, and Elias, who goes by Stack, as they return to their hometown on the Mississippi Delta.

With Chicago in their rearview mirror and a truck full of Irish beer, the siblings quickly buy up an abandoned sawmill and turn it into a juke joint. But their blues-filled safe haven soon turns into a horror house when it's beset upon by a trio of string-picking, ditty-loving bloodsuckers.

Sinners releases on April 18. For more, check out our guide to the most exciting upcoming horror movies heading our way.