Aleshea Harris’ Is God Is stands as one of the more unique releases of 2026. Adapted from her award-winning play, the film marks Harris’ directorial debut and follows sisters Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson) as they leave behind the only life they’ve known to carry out a final request from their mother. On the surface, this is a revenge mission, but it becomes something deeper, as both women are forced to confront the past in ways that test their bond and their sense of self.
Young and Johnson lead the film as the twins, whose lives were permanently altered by a violent act tied to their father. At the start, they exist in a contained world, relying on each other to navigate both physical and emotional scars. Their current reality breaks when they receive word their mother is alive, setting them on a >Sterling K. Brown‘s character of Man—and the twins’ father—was built through anticipation before he appears on screen. His presence is defined by the damage left behind, shaped through the stories of the women connected to him. Harris uses Man’s three wives to allow an image to form very early, becoming highly unlikeable once viewers finally see him. Brown understood the purpose of the role. “This story is unique and powerful and needs to be told. It needed an adversary,” he said. “It’s not about him, instead, it’s about these women.”
Throughout the film, there’s a tone that blends realism with something more stylized. Harris builds a world that feels distinct, pulling from elements of folklore and Western imagery while keeping the focus on the sisters’ struggles, both internally as well as externally. Each stop along the journey adds new context, introducing other women who have been affected by the same man, each offering a different perspective on his impact.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 27:(L-R) Vivica A. Fox, Tessa Thompson, Kara Young, Janelle Monae, Aleshea Harris, Mallori Johnson and Erika Alexander attend the “Is God Is” New York Premiere at Brooklyn Academy of Music on April 27, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
Brown also pointed to a larger idea within the story, one tied to how conflict can carry through families. “There’s this systemic fracturing of the Black household,” he said. “And because of it, there’s an interesting dynamic that can sometimes exist between Black women and Black men, where learning how to walk in tandem is not something that comes easily.”
As this magnetic film moves from stage to screen, it expands its reach while holding onto the intensity that made the original work resonate. Harris gives the characters more room to move, allowing their decisions to carry through a broader space. Ultimately, the film highlights Racine and Anaia, their bond, and the choices they face as they move closer to an ending that leaves room for interpretation.
Is God Is premieres in theaters everywhere on May 15, 2026.
TOPICS: Is God Is Janelle Monáe Kara Young Sterling K. Brown Vivica A. Fox
The post Sterling K. Brown, Kara Young, And Mallori Johnson In Conversation For The Upcoming Film, ‘Is God Is’ appeared first on Essence.
Author: Okla Jones
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