Marlon Wayans takes a chilling turn toward the horror genre with the Jordan Peele-produced film, Him. During CinemaCon, Wayans and his co-star Tyriq Withers took the stage to debut the film’s first trailer and offer insight into the eerie new project. Read more details inside.

A Football Horror Film Unlike Any Other

Him blends psychological terror with the high-stakes world of football. The Justin Tipping-directed film follows an up-and-coming quarterback (Withers), who is taken under the wing of an aging player, portrayed by Wayans. But the mentorship takes a dark and sinister turn as the young athlete learns about the harrowing sacrifices necessary to achieve success. Universal Pictures has slated the film for a September 19 release.

Wayans is best known for his comedic prowess, so naturally, he set the tone at CinemaCon with a playful interaction. He remained in character as he ordered Withers to do push-ups on stage. He then jokingly compared Him to the feel-good 1993 sports film Rudy, to which Withers quickly shot back, “It’s nothing at all like Rudy.”

A Terrifying First Look

The trailer has yet to be released to the public. According to Hollywood Reporter, the trailer teases a narrative that digs deep into the psychological horror of ambition, injury, and the dangers lurking behind the pursuit of greatness. Wayans’ character ominously asks, “You have to ask yourself, ‘What am I willing to sacrifice?’” The footage reportedly features unsettling imagery, hinting at the physical and psychological toll the sport takes on its players.

With Peele at the helm as a producer, audiences can expect Him to carry the same suspenseful, thought-provoking storytelling that has become a trademark of his films, including Get Out, Us, and Nope. The script, penned by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, was previously featured on the Black List, a recognition given to the most promising unproduced screenplays in Hollywood.

A Star-Studded Cast & Peele’s Future Plans

The film also boasts an intriguing ensemble cast, including Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, Jim Jefferies, rapper Guapdad 4000, and musician Tierra Whack. Monkeypaw Productions’ Ian Cooper, Win Rosenfeld, and Jamal Watson join Peele as producers.

While Him is set to arrive in theaters this fall, Peele is also gearing up for his next directorial effort, an untitled Universal feature scheduled for release on October 23, 2026.

With Him, Wayans steps outside of his comedic comfort zone. With Peele’s backing, horror fans are in for a spine-chilling experience unlike anything the sports genre has seen before.

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