Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali is opening up about his creative path, turning the page on Marvel Studios’ stalled Blade reboot, and diving deep into faith, fatherhood, and complex characters in his new action-thriller, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.
Speaking with NPR, CBC, and press at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Ali reflected on how his perspective on acting has evolved. Long before establishing himself as a cinematic powerhouse with wins for Moonlight and Green Book, Ali once considered becoming a preacher. Today, he channels that spiritual inclination directly into his performances.
“I feel like I’m the most spiritual or religious…when I’m working,” Ali said. “I think that there’s something in the choices that we make in this work – that is its own form of preaching. You can speak to and advocate for humanity through your choices as an actor.”
From Marvel Setbacks to a New Cinematic Vision
Ali’s spiritual grounding has served him well, particularly as he navigated the prolonged development delays surrounding Marvel Studios’ Blade. Announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019, the vampire reboot cycled through multiple writers and directors-including Bassam Tariq and Yann Demange-before stalling completely. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige candidly admitted over the summer that failing to make Blade was the biggest career mistake he has made, an assessment Ali publicly agreed with.
Despite training with swords for over a year for the Marvel role, Ali has officially closed the door on the character. “I’m done. I’m doing this and anything moving forward. I’m over that. I’m done with that,” Ali stated.
However, Ali harbors no bitterness and even expressed unexpected gratitude toward Marvel. The studio’s financial contribution ultimately helped fund his new independent project, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, which reunited him with original Blade director Bassam Tariq.
“I got to go train for a year, so at this point, I’m so grateful that they made a wonderful contribution to our film,” Ali noted. Reflecting on the tumultuous process, he added, “Man’s plans and God’s plans… I think if it had been a this or that, I would have chosen this every time.”
Inside Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother
The gritty, soulful action thriller was born out of a real-life incident experienced by director Bassam Tariq. After his son’s birth, an infection hospitalized Tariq’s wife. This left him scrambling across New York City to find breast milk when his newborn refused formula. That desperate search for nourishment became the genesis for the film’s narrative.
In the movie, Ali stars as Latif, a sword-wielding hitman with a violent past and a devout Muslim faith, who is forced to care for his three children after his wife dies. While hunting for breast milk for his youngest child, Latif is pulled into a volatile conflict between a Muslim p***ographer, played by Abubakr Ali, and a Christian fanatic, portrayed by John Cho.
“The opportunity to do this story was unlike anything I’ve read before,” Ali said. “As far as looking for a character, this requires you to immerse yourself and go deep… I think if you were to remove the action elements from it, some of the fighting, it still would have been pretty profound and phenomenal.”
The film deliberately balances heavy thematic explorations of redemption, fatherhood, and multi-dimensional cultural identity with precise action choreography coordinated by stunt veteran Adam Hart. Rather than leaning into gratuitous violence, the creative team focused strictly on what the story demanded.
For Ali, the project represents a return to substantive, character-driven storytelling. Moving past the corporate constraints of major superhero franchises, the actor remains focused on building his own path forward-one deliberate, meaningful choice at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mahershala Ali
What awards has Mahershala Ali won?
Mahershala Ali has won two Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best Supporting Actor: the first for Moonlight (2016) and the second for Green Book (2018).
Why did Mahershala Ali leave Marvel’s Blade?
Ali officially moved on from Blade following years of continuous development delays, multiple writer and director changes, and production stalls. He confirmed he is completely done with the role, choosing instead to focus on independent projects like Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.
What is Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother about?
The film follows Latif (played by Mahershala Ali), a sword-wielding hitman with a violent past who must care for his children after his wife passes away. His desperate search for breast milk for his infant draws him into a conflict between a Muslim p***ographer and a Christian fanatic.
Who directed Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother?
The film was directed by Bassam Tariq, who was originally attached to direct Marvel’s Blade before transitioning to this indie collaboration with Ali.
Did Mahershala Ali use martial arts or sword training for his new film?
Yes. Ali spent over a year training with swords in preparation for Marvel’s Blade, physical skills that he was ultimately able to utilize effectively for his action-heavy role as Latif.
