From Oscar winner Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, producers of the landmark horror films Get Out, Us, Candyman and Nope, comes a chilling journey into the inner sanctum of fame, idolatry and the pursuit of excellence at any cost, Him, featuring an electrifying dramatic performance from Marlon Wayans and a star-making turn from Tyriq Withers.
As the film continues to confront audiences in the US, and ahead of its rollout in Australia on October 2nd (you can read our review here), where it was described as, “bombastically thrilling and gorgeously audacious,” our Peter Gray sat down with both Withers and Wayans in Los Angeles to discuss how they viewed their roles and what personal facets they injected into their characters to make them uniquely their own.
What I loved about this film is that it borrows imagery from Christ and discipleship. Did you approach your roles as spiritual archetypes? Or more as a commentary on how we worship celebrity?
Marlon Wayans: I really didn’t worry about all of that as much as I did the dedication it takes to be great, and what are you willing to sacrifice? I prayed. I knew that there were dark elements involved, (so) I prayed before I went to set every day. I would just make sure that I was in a great place. I know what I was working toward, and the goodness that Marlon was coming from. So, I would use that for (the character) Isaiah, who was probably on the other side.
Tyriq Withers: For me, I leave the symbolism up to the filmmakers. I pour my own experience into the role of chasing greatness. And I did that on all different aspects. Coming from my younger days, I wanted to be a soccer player, and I knew what it was to want to see Ronaldinho play in real life. Apparently (Marlon) and Ronaldinho are friends…
Marlon Wayans: Yeah, you missed out. He was doing some stuff.
Tyriq Withers: But I just know that feeling of looking up to somebody who’s doing what you love the most, and wanting to meet them and possibly be just as good, to hold a light to what they’ve done. I never approached something thinking I could be better than Marlon, right? I think what Marlon has done is iconic, and I’m standing on his shoulders, so I just want to add to that. I think that’s where (my character) was coming from.
Your character, Tyriq, is pulled from his inner sanctum. Did playing him change how you think about entering Hollywood yourself as an up-and-comer?
Tyriq Withers: Yeah, I think coming into the industry, and with any industry, you’re presented different routes and opportunities. Yeah, it did shine a light into how bad I really want things and what am I willing to sacrifice? I think there’s a healthy balance to reach where I want to go in this industry. Being from Florida, you’re sacrificing the time and the distance you can be spending with your time. I think Cameron’s journey with wanting to build a family up, while also chasing greatness, is something that has made me think about this even more.
And looking at your characters. Separate from either conversations you had with each other, conversations you had with Justin (Tipping, director), was there either a line of dialogue that you wanted to present a certain way? Was there a piece of clothing that you specifically chose? A cologne that you specifically wore to make Cameron and Isaiah very much tailored to you?
Marlon Wayans: I think we both had our own processes. It’s funny, as much as we worked together, I think our process was over here and over here. As an actor, you got to have respect for your fellow actors, and just knowing that they’re doing that they got to do to get there. And then you’re doing what you have to do to get there. So, for me, Isaiah had a ritual every day. I got up and walked a half hour, and then when I came home I would sit in red light therapy, at lease five to 15 minutes a day. Just meditating and owning what it is to be great and be still and think about the greatness, so when I walk on set I feel that confidence.
Tyriq Withers: I think for me, it’s a more tangible thing that allowed me to bring myself to the character. (He) was coming from a football place, where I knew what it was like to touch the field. There were certain things I wouldn’t allow to be put on me if I was on the football field, like, for instance, I didn’t want knee pads on my pants. I think that was a big thing. Or I wanted a specific sock length with the wrinkles, because there’s being a football player, and then there’s being a football player with the aura, the swagger of being the number one draft pick. It’s funny you ask, the bracelets I got to wear in any athletic scene that you watch was a personal piece of mine that commemorates my brother who passed away. So I got to carry him with me in this film, to the point where it’s even on the poster. Any poster you see…
Marlon Wayans: Boy, you better not win an Oscar! You gon’ cry! That’s a lot of investment, boy.
Tyriq Withers: (Laughs) That’s a testament to Justin Tipping and Monkeypaw (Productions) and Universal (Pictures). They allow the realness of who you are to be shown.
There’s a whole thing here of mentorship versus manipulation. Where do you see the line between guiding someone and consuming them? Marlon, did you find yourself sympathizing with Isaiah at all?
Marlon Wayans: I didn’t agree with Isaiah’s process. I’m the opposite. I reach with love, right? I was raised in love, but I’m also a troll. So that’s where my abuse comes in. I would do troll-y things that never get on (Tyriq’s) nerves, but that was kind of, “Like, hey, welcome to the fraternity called Love and Wayans, and this is how we do it.” But I would never give him any kind of toxic advice or play any mind games. Everything I did was in jest and joy, so we could really just collaborate as brothers, to feel good when we did our scenes together.
Well, one of the things of you being a troll is great, because you respond to everybody that has some shit to say…
Marlon Wayans: Oh, I’m a troll! You mess with the wrong dude. You say something about me and my kids? Oh, I’m gonna be up all night. One night, someone said something about my daughter, and, man. It was Christmas Eve, it was before they transitioned, and they came to me, “Daddy, are you coming up? It’s gonna be Christmas soon.” I said, “I’ll get to it. We’re gonna open gifts at five o’clock tomorrow night,” and I was just trolling like, you started this!
Him is now screening in theatres in the United States. It will be released in Australian theatres on October 2nd, 2025.
