Director Bassam Tariq moved on from Marvel's stalled Blade reboot to helm a new thriller starring Mahershala Ali as Latif, a devout Muslim contract killer operating in Houston.
In "Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother," Ali's character uses a sword as part of his personal code. Tariq, who wrote and directed the film, explained the weapon choice as deliberate storytelling. "You are forced to strike with intention when you use a sword," Tariq said in a recent interview in Toronto. The sword becomes a negotiation with Latif's faith, according to Tariq. Latif justifies his killings as divine retribution against people he believes have offended God.
The project marks a significant pivot for Tariq after the Blade reboot was shelved. Tariq told the Guardian he is happier having made this film instead.
The thriller pairs Ali's acclaimed acting with a character study that explores faith and violence. Latif positions himself as a righteous killer rather than a common hitman, his actions driven by religious conviction rather than mercenary motives. The Houston setting grounds the story in a specific geographic and cultural context.
No release date has been announced.