Blood, sweat and tears? Yeah, that’s the price you gotta pay if you want to achieve anything in this life, according to Marlon Wayans. “If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to sacrifice things. A lot of things,” he exclaimed to EBONY in our sit-down interview for his latest film, HIM.
“The only thing that you are always gonna hold onto is your integrity and your soul. But other than that, anything that you can give to your art and your craft to be the greatest you that you can be, you show up, period.”
That’s the mysterious quest posed in the Jordan Peele-produced psychological horror thriller. Wayans stars as Isaiah White, the reigning Super Bowl GOAT. He’s willing to train Cameron Cade, who’s considered to be the next great football star—if Cameron can endure Isaiah's ominous training camp, where things are definitely not all that they seem.
Marlon Wayans as Isaiah in HIM, directed by Justin Tipping.
Marlon Wayans in HIM. Image: Universal Pictures.
“Isaiah’s a mentor. He's a jokester. I think he always changes shapes depending on the situation,” he explained. “He likes being bad. He takes pride in it. So, when you’re playing that, you gotta have joy. When you do that, the audience starts having fun with you.”
Tyriq Withers, who portrays prized newbie Cameron, actually played college football at Florida State University, which gave him a direct connection to the character’s mindset.
HIM
Tyriq Withers in HIM. Image: Parrish Lewis/Universal Pictures.
“I called on times where I knew what it was like to walk into the locker room of a division one, winning football team, the fear and anticipation of meeting [Dallas Cowboy] Dalvin Cook and [Los Angeles Chargers] Derwin James Jr., the idols of that team,” he shared. “I think that personal experience is conscious and subconscious; so I allowed myself to be a vessel.”
Having gone through drills and scrimmages in real life, the training for the film should have been easy. “I was sadly mistaken in my humble opinion,” Withers continued. “It was just as difficult through the process of prepping through the gym, working with the quarterback and acting coach, journaling and bringing these memories to the screen. It infused into the work you see in Cameron.”
Speaking of getting buffed for these roles, Wayans, who transformed his physique with HIIT, conditioning and strength training, liked training his legs because “I take pride in my, my little ass.” Withers put a lot of emphasis on the chest work. “I had a bird chest, so it was caving in,” Withers confessed. “That's my favorite thing to work on, because I have bad chest genetics. Shout out to my pops.”
Beyond the physical work, grit and dogged dedication, Withers wants us to understand that your favorite QB running a touchdown is more than just the sport he plays. “Somebody chasing greatness, I think this transcends just sports. You can define your own way to success, and you don't always have to abide by other people's standards," he stated as he gave props to one of his favorite athletes.
"Somebody I watch and love dearly is Coco Gauff, and seeing her be a human when she's playing a lonely sport like tennis,” he shared. “I think what's beautiful about this movie, HIM, is that we are more than an athlete. We're human beings with actual life experiences and emotions.”
HIM opens in theaters on September 19.