Kara Young (I’m a Virgo), Mallori Johnson (Kindred) lead the cast of Amazon MGM Orion Pictures’ upcoming adaptation of the Obie-winning play, Is God Is. Young and Johnson take on the roles of twin sisters, Racine and Anaia, who share a bond forged by trauma and a thirst for justice. Joining the pair in this intense revenge drama are Oscar nominee and Emmy-winner Sterling K. Brown, Vivica A. Fox, and actress and Grammy-nominee Janelle Monáe.
Directed by Aleshea Harris, who also penned the original 2018 stage play, Is God Is explores a harrowing journey of vengeance and self-discovery. The story follows Racine and Anaia, outcasts marked by disfiguring burn scars. Racine, with scars on her torso and hands, acts as her sister’s fierce protector, while Anaia, scarred across her face, is more reserved. The twins’ world is turned upside down when their mother, presumed dead, summons them to her bedside. She reveals that their father is responsible for her debilitated state and the burns that forever marked their lives, and she urges them to seek retribution. As the twins confront their violent history, they grapple with the decision to either avenge their mother or find mercy.
The production team includes notable names such as Zola director Janicza Bravo, actress Tessa Thompson, producer Kishori Rajan, and Beasts of No Nation producer Riva Marker. Together, they aim to bring Harris’ haunting and thought-provoking play to the big screen, delivering a unique blend of psychological thriller and family drama.
Is God Is earned its place in theater history with three Obie Awards: playwriting for Harris, directing for Taibi Magar, and performance awards for Alfie Fuller and Dame-Jasmine Hughes as Anaia and Racine. Harris herself is a notable force in contemporary theater, having been a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her 2023 play On Sugarland.