Sterling K. Brown is stepping into a dangerously thrilling new role: a father with a massive target on his back, placed there by his very own twin daughters. Based on the award-winning play, the upcoming film adaptation of Is God Is, written and directed by Aleshea Harris, promises to be an unapologetic, genre-bending revenge ride.
Mixing elements of the Spaghetti Western, Afropunk, and ancient tragedy, the story follows twin sisters Racine and Anaia, played by two-time Tony winner Kara Young and Mallori Johnson.
After surviving a horrific fire set by their father when they were babies, the twins are summoned eighteen years later to the deathbed of their severely scarred mother, played by Vivica A. Fox. The mother, whom they refer to as “God,” issues a dark, uncompromising command: travel from the Dirty South to the California desert to find their father (Brown) and make him dead.
The sisters embark on a bloody cross-country mission, only to cross paths with their father’s newest wife, played by Janelle Monáe, adding another layer of complication to their vengeful quest.
During the recent ABFF Honors red carpet, The Quintessential Gentleman caught up with Fox, Alexander, and Harris to discuss the highly anticipated project and the broader concept of “Black excellence.”
When asked if they still believe in the term “Black excellence” or if the phrasing has run its course, the trio was resounding in their continued support of the concept.
“Absolutely,” Fox stated. “As we just discovered, it is irreplaceable”. Harris agreed, viewing the term as a crucial “space of affirmation for all Black people” that spans across all socio-economic strata.
Alexander expanded on the topic, reflecting on the historical weight of Black resilience and creativity. “Our entire existence… proved beyond a doubt,” she noted, highlighting how African Americans have overcome immense struggles, from experiencing homelessness to being treated as “orphans” of the diaspora.
“We rewrote… [our] future,” she added, asserting that Black people remain the “biggest culture makers in world history, as part of tradition”.
That tradition of groundbreaking culture-making is exactly what Harris is bringing to the big screen with Is God Is. Fox couldn’t contain her excitement about the film and the collaborative energy on set.
With a dark plot centered on daughters hunting down their father, directed by a visionary like Harris, and fueled by a cast of dynamic powerhouses, Is God Is is shaping up to be exactly the kind of cinematic disruptor we’re looking for.
Mark your calendars for May 15th. Check out the trailer for Is God Is below.
