Mahershala Ali Shows a Softer Side to His Assassin in New Look at Acclaimed Action Thriller [Exclusive]

Until now, Mahershala Ali hasn't had the chance to headline his own action movie. The Oscar winner has been lauded more for his emotionally complex, character-driven performances, like Chiron's drug-dealing father figure Juan in the Best Picture-winning Moonlight and famed pianist Don Shirley in Green Book. He was originally set to play the Daywalker himself in the MCU's Blade movie, but after years of delays and rumors of cancellation, Ali walked away frustrated by Marvel and Kevin Feige's lack of movement toward actually making the project. This year, though, a new film finally lets him loose in an action-packed turn that still plays to his strengths.

Hitting theaters tomorrow, September 25, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother revolves around a devout hitman named Latif (Ali) who operates via a strict code — no using firearms and no killing anyone the world wouldn't be better off without. He's also, however, a family man, and following the death of his wife, he vows to leave the criminal life behind to focus on his children. Giving up the contract-killing business may be easier said than done, though, with his employer in the middle of a feud that's just heating up. Seeking breast milk to feed his youngest and generally struggling to juggle work, faith, and family, he embarks on a desperate, explosive journey across Houston, haunted by the ghosts of his bloody past that keep closing in on him.

As part of Collider's Exclusive Fall Preview series, we're excited to share a new image that highlights the killer's softer side. He's shown standing just outside a convenience store with his baby strapped to his chest and his phone pressed up against his ear. Without knowing anything about Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother heading in, it'd be easy to mistake Latif for a normal, good dad rather than an assassin for hire. The shot illustrates the struggle of the character, torn between a simpler life trying to provide everything for his children and his criminal profession that's dangerous not just for himself, but for everyone he loves. As the only parent who can care for his children, the stakes are high, and the weight of responsibility is even greater for a man also wrestling with his faith.

'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' Challenged Ali in Ways He'd Never Experienced

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother marks the first film for director Bassam Tariq since his BAFTA-nominated feature Mogul Mowgli premiered in 2020, though his work has recently been seen on the Riz Ahmed-led series Bait. He was also attached to direct Ali in Blade at one point, but this project gave him the chance to work with the star on something entirely original despite the MCU entry's collapse. In the eyes of critics, the filmmaker hasn't missed a beat in that over half-decade gap. So far, the action thriller boasts a stellar 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, with Collider's Tania Hussain among those singing its praises in her 9/10 review, writing about how it goes beyond the initial promise of an assassin outrunning his past to "become something far more tender than its premise initially suggests." John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito, Abubakr Ali, Tramell Tillman, Tiffany Boone, and Laith Nakli make up a strong cast around Ali.

While Ali has prominently appeared on the big screen in some bombastic blockbuster franchises, including The Hunger Games and the latest Jurassic World movie, leading his first action film was an altogether different challenge. In an interview with Collider's Steve Weintraub at TIFF, Tariq also added that the actor was doing all of his own stunts, adding an extra layer of difficulty to a shoot with such a focus on nailing its climactic action sequences. Ali relished the opportunity to do something he hadn't tackled on a movie set before, saying:

"That was unfamiliar to me. I hadn't had a chance to do that. I've always wanted to do that, especially as a former athlete, but I had never really had that opportunity in that way. And so I think that that moment going into it and going, ‘When are we going to rehearse this, Bassam? When are we gonna rehearse this in between takes?’ So, it was that type of thing. And I'm very proud of what all involved were able to achieve in making this film."

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother premieres in theaters on September 25. Check out our exclusive image above.