BLOGSIA.EU.ORG - The horror thriller Him officially opens in theaters worldwide today, Friday, September 19, 2025. The new Him movie from Monkeypaw Productions introduces Tyriq Withers as its lead star, giving the young actor his biggest role to date. Directed by Justin Tipping and produced by Oscar winner Jordan Peele, the film blends sports drama and psychological terror in a story that explores ambition, obsession, and grief.
For Withers, who recently appeared in the thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer, the journey to land the role in Him was far from simple. During his audition with Monkeypaw and Universal Pictures, the actor was unexpectedly asked to perform a football throw on camera. The request sounded straightforward, but at that time Withers was in Serbia filming Malik Vitthal’s thriller Family Secrets. Finding an American football in Eastern Europe proved nearly impossible. “Do you know how hard it is to find a football in the middle of Serbia? It took about a week,” Withers told Entertainment Weekly.
The situation turned into a team effort. Director Malik Vitthal helped the actor record the Him movie audition, ensuring Withers had footage of himself practicing and holding the ball. For the actor, the request immediately triggered memories of his own days as a college football player. However, his real-life position as wide receiver was nothing like the quarterback role he was trying to embody. “It reminded me of my days playing football, but it was also intimidating because throwing the ball wasn’t really my strength,” he admitted.
Once he officially secured the part of Cameron Cade in Him, Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Pictures arranged professional football training. Withers worked directly with former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer, now director of quarterback development for the XFL. The training allowed him to understand the technical and emotional weight of being a quarterback, which is central to the film’s plot. “It was an experience that humbled me and gave me a deeper connection to the character,” Withers said.
The Him movie is not only about football but also about loss, resilience, and identity. These themes resonated deeply with Withers, who experienced personal tragedy in 2021 when his brother died in a car accident. That loss shaped his approach to certain emotional scenes in Him. “I think it was a moment that made me confront my own sadness, something I had to fully face and understand,” he explained.
The Him film synopsis follows Cameron Cade, a rising star quarterback on the brink of joining the professional leagues. Just before the draft, Cade is attacked by a disturbed fan and suffers a traumatic brain injury, leaving his future in doubt. As he struggles to recover, he meets his idol Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans, an eight-time championship quarterback and cultural icon. White invites Cade to train at his remote compound, where he lives with his wife Elsie, portrayed by Julia Fox, a glamorous social media influencer. But what begins as mentorship gradually turns sinister. Isaiah’s charisma hides something darker, and Cade finds himself caught between admiration and fear in a chilling descent into psychological horror.
Produced by Jordan Peele, known for Get Out, Us, and Nope, the Him movie continues Monkeypaw’s reputation for genre-bending films that mix social commentary with suspense. For Tyriq Withers, this role is both a professional breakthrough and a personal test. His story, from scrambling to find a football in Serbia to channeling grief into his performance, reflects the unpredictability of Hollywood auditions and the resilience required to succeed.
As Him begins its theatrical run, Tyriq Withers steps into the spotlight as a new face in Hollywood, carrying a film that demands intensity, authenticity, and vulnerability. For audiences, his performance in Him is more than a sports drama or horror story. It is the arrival of an actor ready to transform personal experience into art, guided by the vision of Jordan Peele and the daring creativity of Monkeypaw Productions.
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