"Is God Is" has secured an early summer release date from Orion Pictures, a subsidiary of Amazon MGM Studios, promising cinema-goers an intriguing cinematic experience. Aleshea Harris, the talented playwright, makes her directorial debut with this big-screen adaptation of her acclaimed and award-winning stage play of the same name, set to premiere on May 15, 2026, coinciding with the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, amidst speculations about its potential awards trajectory—Orion being renowned for its prestigious offerings.
Harris' directorial foray, "Is God Is," stars Kara Young ("Virgo") and Mallori Johnson ("Kindred") as identical African-American twins, forever scarred by a devastating infant fire. Now in their early twenties, these sisters embark on an exhilarating yet harrowing quest for vengeance, uncovering a charged family history that propels them into uncharted territories.
The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander, Mykelti Williamson, and Josiah Cross, with Vivica A. Fox and Sterling K. Brown rounding out the stellar lineup. Producers include Tessa Thompson and Kishori Rajan of Viva Maude, Riva Marker of Lindens, Janicza Bravo of CYRK, alongside Harris herself. Executive producers Stacy O’Neil, Nicole King, and Kenneth Yu have also played pivotal roles in bringing this project to life.
Harris pens the adapted screenplay, weaving a narrative that begins with the twins leading a humble existence in the Northeast. Their world flips upside down when they discover that their mother, known monolithically as "She" or "God," is still alive. Their journey takes them to her Southern home, where she reveals a shocking truth: their father is responsible for the blaze that scarred them all. With this revelation, she sends them on an odyssey across the California desert to confront him and seek justice.
"Is God Is," which premiered Off-Broadway at the Soho Rep in 2018, garnered multiple Obie Awards and swiftly captured the attention of top film producers, including Tessa Thompson. At one point, even Scott Rudin and A24 were eager to adapt the play for the silver screen.
The interest is hardly surprising. Two years prior to its Off-Broadway debut, "Is God Is" had already won the American Playwriting Foundation’s Relentless Award, established in honor of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Harris was lauded for her innovative take on the revenge genre and awarded a $45,000 cash prize, which enabled her to stage readings across the United States, further cementing her play's status as a groundbreaking work of art.
