Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson’s new musical drama Song Sung Blue may be winning over critics, but not everyone connected to the real-life story behind it is impressed.
In fact, the son of the musician whose life inspired the film has hit out at the Hollywood adaptation, claiming it completely misrepresents his father’s story and “destroys” his legacy.
The December 2025 film tells the story of real-life couple Claire “Thunder” and the late Mike “Lightning” Sardina, who spent years performing together in a Neil Diamond tribute band called Lightning & Thunder. Their relationship was first documented in the 2008 documentary Song Sung Blue, which followed their highs, lows, and long-running musical partnership.
But speaking to the Daily Mail, Mike’s son, 41-year-old Michael Sardina Jr., said his father would be “rolling in his grave” over how the story has been retold on the big screen.
“Everybody thinks it’s such a wonderful film, it’s so touching,” he said. “It’s all lies. And it steals all the hard work that my father put in his entire life.”
Michael Jr. and his sister Angelina became part of a blended family when Mike married Claire in 1994. Mike passed away in 2006, two years before the original documentary was released, after a 17-year music career and 12-year marriage, PEOPLE details.
While Michael Jr. has been vocal in his criticism, Claire herself has publicly supported the movie. She attended the Milwaukee premiere alongside her daughter Rachel, joined Jackman onstage for a rendition of Sweet Caroline, and later appeared at the New York premiere with Hudson and her children.
Michael Jr. claims both he and his sister were paid consultants on the film but says he was “purposely cut out” of the final story. According to the Daily Mail, text messages between Angelina and producer John Fox appear to confirm consultant payments, and Angelina’s contract reportedly allowed her onscreen portrayal to be fictionalised.
Despite being Mike’s only son, Michael Jr. does not appear as a character in the film – something he says is deeply hurtful.
“Every interview that those monsters have been on national television don’t even mention my existence at all,” he claimed, per PEOPLE. “Even though I was the most prevalent force in my father’s life.”
He also alleged filmmakers failed to properly consult him about his father’s story. “They didn’t even try to contact me. They didn’t try to get more information,” he said.
Angelina echoed some of his concerns, saying that while the love between Mike and Claire was real, much of the rest wasn’t.
“It’s a beautiful story, but that’s not how it went down,” she said. “And I guess that’s what’s upsetting – because it’s a lie.”
Michael Jr. went on to accuse the cast and crew of erasing what his father spent his life building.
“They completely destroyed the one thing my father worked his entire life to pass on – his legacy,” he said. “I want the true story out there, told with truth and dignity.”