Mahershala Ali is ready to show fans a different side of his acting career. The Oscar winner has taken on a major action role in his latest movie. He says the project gives him a chance to do something he has wanted to try for years. Ali now sees the film as the start of a new chapter.
Mahershala Ali declares the beginning of his ‘action era’ with Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother after moving on from Marvel’s Blade
Ali spoke with PEOPLE after Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12. He stars as a contract killer named Latif in the Bassam Tariq-directed action thriller. “This is definitely the beginning of my action era,” Ali told PEOPLE. He then joked, “I always die when the action starts.”
Ali said this film finally gave him the chance to handle the action himself. “So this is the first time I actually got to do the action,” he said. “So I’m just grateful for that.” The film is about a Muslim family man named Latif, who is a contract killer and adheres to a strict code. He avoids guns and only takes targets that he believes the world would benefit from losing.
As per the official synopsis, the story changes after Latif loses his wife and decides to leave his criminal life behind. He wants to take care of his three kids, but his employer, Mike, has other plans. Latif also gets caught between Mike and cowboy Haun Yoon, played by John Cho. His violent past soon creates more trouble for him.
Ali also shared his personal reasons for wanting to take up this role. He said accepting it helped him connect with the inner child who once watched movies and imagined becoming a hero. “I think getting to finally put all those elements together for me was really a joy,” he told the outlet.
Ali is best known for his Oscar-winning performances in Moonlight and Green Book. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother will open in select theaters Sept. 25 before expanding in October. For Ali, the movie now signals a fresh start in action films.
