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Marlon Wayans on “Him,” and on veering from comedy to horror

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Marlon Wayans on “Him,” and on veering from comedy to horror


Just a stone’s throw from the concert halls of New York’s Lincoln Center is another place where creative dreams come true: LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, a launching pad for the most talented teens in New York. Liza Minnelli studied here; so did Billy Dee Williams, Jennifer Aniston, Timothée Chalamet, and Adrien Brody. “A two-time Oscar-winner, look at that!” said Brody’s former classmate, Marlon Wayans, Class of 1990. “Makes me so proud. We used to give him wedgies!”

Marlon Wayans with correspondent Tracy Smith, at LaGuardia High School’s “Wall of Fame.” 

CBS News


As an actor, writer and producer, Wayans is behind some of the best-loved projects in recent memory, like the “Scary Movie” franchise, a comic satire of horror films. There have been five “Scary” movies (some without the Wayans brothers), but they’re back at the helm for the upcoming #6 next year.

And when he’s not making movies, Marlon Wayans tours on the live stand-up comedy circuit. He also turns out streaming comedy specials like clockwork. “Probably a year that I had a day off,” he said. “Probably three years since I had a vacation.”

I asked, “What are you chasing?”

“I don’t know if I’m chasing, or if I’m running from something!” he laughed. And for his latest role, he had to do both.

In the new psychological horror film “Him,” a rookie quarterback (played by Tyriq Withers) wants to be the greatest. Marlon Wayans is an aging football superstar who’s going to help him. At first he’s a likeable coach, but he morphs into a something evil.

Is he the Devil in this film? “No, I think I’m just one of the people that the Devil uses to entice the people who sell their soul,” Wayans said.

To watch a trailer for the film “Him,” click on the video player below:


HIM | Official Trailer by
Universal Pictures on
YouTube

The notion of trading your soul for athletic immortality is one of the all-time great storylines. You might recall “Damn Yankees,” with a hopeful fan striking a deal with the Devil. And as the Devil’s advocate in “Him,” Wayans’ character puts the rookie quarterback through hell. “The movie seems like, ‘Oh, you’re selling your soul to the Devil.’ The Devil exists every day, everywhere,” Wayans said. “At least 20 times a day you are gonna be faced with God or the Devil. So, it’s a choice. Everything you do is a choice.”

It’s a big change for someone raised on comedy. Marlon Wayans is the youngest of 10 siblings, in the comedy dynasty known as the Wayans family. He often worked with his brothers, like when he teamed up with Shawn as an undercover FBI agent in the 2004 cult favorite “White Chicks.”

Family is still the bedrock of Wayans’ life, and the passing of some close relatives and friends over the past few years hit especially hard, as he described in his 2024 special “Good Grief”:  

“I’ve been dodging depression for the last three years. I lost my momma three years ago. And let me tell you y’all something, ain’t no pain, ain’t no nothing like losing your momma.”

I asked, “Do you think losing all these people in such a short span of time, that pain, informs your acting?”

“Yes, because I used to have to manufacture tears,” Marlon said. “My mother died … it’s all I gotta think about. It’s right there. It’s right behind my eyes. I don’t need 20 minutes to go think about stuff no more.”

Wayans has learned how to turn personal loss into dramatic power. He was told he was the only one considered for his role in “Him,” a sign that his time may have finally come.

He said, “It took me doing the work for 53 years to feel special.”

“You didn’t feel special?” I asked.

“I felt like I was working towards something.”

“And now you feel like that something is here?”

“I feel like it’s never there, but it’s getting closer,” he replied.

marlon-wayans-a-1280.jpg

Actor-comedian Marlon Wayans. 

CBS News


To date, Marlon Wayans’ movies alone are said to have grossed nearly $2 billion, and there are more on the way. But he says he’ll never forget LaGuardia, the unique school where it all started. “I’ll always love this city, and I’ll always love this school. This is my baby for life. I hope these kids know how good they got it.”

He almost didn’t get to go. His father didn’t want him to attend. “Nah, my dad, he was super-religious, and he was kind of a homophobe; he didn’t want me wearing tights! ‘Cause you have to wear tights when you come to this school.”

The late LaGuardia drama teacher Peter Treitler gave him permission to wear sweatpants instead, a little thing that changed Marlon’s life forever. 

Mr. Treitler’s words are still alive in Marlon’s heart: “He said, ‘I’ll make a deal with you: If you go to this school, you work harder than anybody else here, and you be special.’ Young people need people that believe in them and see they’re great. But young people gotta do the work so they can see they’re great.”

“Well, that’s the thing, is you took that and ran with it,” I said.

Wayans replied, “I’m still running with it.”

     

      
For more info:

       
Story produced by John D’Amelio. Editor: Steven Tyler.

       
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Kensington Palace issues statement about unlawful behavior towards Prince William, Kate

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Kensington Palace issues statement about unlawful behavior towards Prince William, Kate


Kensington Palace issues statement about unlawful behavior towards Prince William, Kate

Kensington Palace has finally released a statement about the unlawful behavior that taken place against Prince William and Kate Middleton.

For those unversed, the statement in in response to the couple having won their privacy invasion suit against a French magazine that shared long-lens images of them, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis from their Easter break trip to the Alps.

What is pertinent to mention is that the French Court also instructed the publication to acknowledge the breach via a judicial notice.

According to Hello! the Palace has said, “their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales, have been successful in legal proceedings brought in France against the owner of Paris Match, which published a grossly intrusive article and long-lens paparazzi photographs of their private family holiday in the Alps in April.”

“The ruling affirms that, notwithstanding their public duties as members of The Royal Family, Their Royal Highnesses and their children are entitled to respect for their private lives and family time, without unlawful interference and intrusion.”

“The Prince and Princess of Wales are committed to protecting their private family time and ensuring that their children can grow up without undue scrutiny and interference. They will not hesitate to take such action as is necessary to enforce those boundaries.”





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David Bowie’s last years to be shared in new documentary

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David Bowie’s last years to be shared in new documentary


David Bowie’s final years to be commemorated on film

David Bowie launched his last album almost ten years ago and now his last years are set to be commemorated on film.

As per Deadline, a documentary with the title that is under works David Bowie: The Final Act, will chart the final creative chapter of one of music’s most iconic artists.

It would feature rare interviews with those who knew and worked alongside Bowie as well as famous fans and figures who have been inspired by his artistry.

The film’s goal would be to uncover Bowie’s artistic resurrection during his final decade, in which he released his critically acclaimed album Blackstar, just two days before he died.

The 90-minute feature is a co-production between Channel 4, Dogwoof and Rogan Productions, which also made Freddie Mercury: The Final Act and ABBA: Against the Odds.

Director Jonathan Stiasny shared, “The traditional music documentary celebrates triumph. What fascinated me most when making this film was how Bowie’s final chapter wasn’t an ending, it was a resurrection. He transformed failure into triumph, silence into revelation, and ultimately, death into art.”

David Bowie is widely recognised as one of the greatest musicians of all time, selling more than 100 million records worldwide and winning countless awards. He passed away in January 2016 due to liver cancer

The Space Oddity singer passed away in January 2016, aged 69, after a battle with liver cancer.





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Eighteen India-backed terrorists killed in two separate Balochistan IBOs: ISPR

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Eighteen India-backed terrorists killed in two separate Balochistan IBOs: ISPR


Pakistan Army personnel can be seen patrolling in this undated image. — Reuters/File
  • ISPR says IBO conducted in Quetta, Kech districts.
  • Adds operation part of Azm-e-Istehkam campaign.
  • President, PM pay tribute to security forces.

At least eighteen India-backed terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in two separate operations in Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Thursday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that an intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted in the general area of Chiltan Mountains, Quetta district, on the reported presence of terrorists.

“During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, fourteen India-sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” it added.

In another IBO conducted in the general area of Buleda, Kech district, a terrorist hideout was busted and four terrorists were successfully neutralised, the ISPR said.

It said weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from slain terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities.

The military said sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists found in the area.

It further said that the relentless counter terrorism campaign under vision “Azm-e-Istehkam” by the security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tribute to security forces for eliminating 18 terrorists of Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan in Balochistan, reaffirming Pakistan’s firm resolve under Azm-e-Istehkam to eradicate all foreign-sponsored terrorism.

Pakistan has been grappling with rising terror incidents, particularly in KP and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban regime took power in 2021.

The government has repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to rein in terrorist groups responsible for countless attacks in Pakistan.

However, the Taliban regime largely remained indifferent to Pakistan’s demands and provided refuge to multiple terrorist groups targeting security forces and civilians.

Instead of addressing Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism, the Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing along the border on October 12.

Pakistan Armed Forces retaliated swiftly, killing over 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants; however, as many as 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred during the border clashes.

Security forces also conducted strikes inside Afghanistan, including in Kabul, destroying terrorists’ hideouts in the country.

Hostilities between forces of the two nations ceased after Pakistan accepted the Taliban regime’s request for a temporary ceasefire on October 17.

Delegations from the two countries later met for talks mediated by Qatar in Doha, where they agreed on a ceasefire agreement.

Turkiye then hosted the second round of talks in Istanbul, which began on October 25.

However, the talks ended inconclusively after four days over what Pakistani authorities described as the Taliban delegation’s “illogical” arguments, which they said were “detached from ground realities”.





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