Mahershala Ali Stars in Bassam Tariq's 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother'
The Amazon MGM Studios thriller explores faith and fatherhood through the lens of a devout hitman in rural Virginia.
Writer-director Bassam Tariq and actor Mahershala Ali have reunited for 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,' a personal thriller that premiered at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The film marks a creative shift for the duo, who were previously attached to a Marvel 'Blade' project that failed to materialize.
Produced by Amazon MGM Studios, the story follows Latif, a devoutly religious hitman and former Quran teacher played by Ali. Following the sudden death of his wife, Khadija (Shakirah DeMesier), Latif must navigate the challenges of single fatherhood while embarking on a desperate search for breast milk to feed his infant daughter. In a heightened version of rural Virginia, Latif operates as a contract killer who adheres to a strict professional code, utilizing blades rather than guns for his assignments.
Personal Origins and Casting
The narrative is rooted in Tariq's own life; the director stated that the story was inspired by his personal experience attempting to feed his newborn son while his wife was in the ICU. This emotional core is supported by a diverse ensemble cast, including Giancarlo Esposito as an imam and John Cho, who portrays Hwan Yoon, a maniacal Evangelical pastor. The film's title is derived from an Islamic hadith emphasizing the central role and love owed to mothers.
A Pivot in Genre
For Ali and Tariq, the project represents a significant departure from the scale of big-budget superhero cinema. By utilizing the thriller genre, the film explores the intersection of grief, violence, and Muslim identity. It further serves as a satire of modern American religious divisions, grounding its heightened premise in lived emotional authenticity. The narrative tension relies on the stark contrast between the tenderness of early fatherhood and the brutality of Latif's professional life.
Release Schedule
Following its festival debut, 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on September 25, 2026. A wider rollout is expected to follow in October. The film arrives as a focused character study, trading the spectacle of franchise filmmaking for a visceral exploration of a father's desperation and the rigid codes of a killer.