Marques Houston stars in ‘Run’.
Opening in theaters on August twenty ninth is the brand new alien invasion film ‘Run’, which was directed and co-written by Chris Stokes (‘You Received Served’) and produced and co-written by actor Marques Houston (‘Fats Albert’).
Launch Date: Aug 29, 2025
Run Time: 1 hr 35 min
Along with Houston, the movie additionally stars Annie Ilonzeh (‘Peppermint’), Drew Sidora (‘Step Up’), Erica Mena (‘The Stepmother 3’), Claudia Jordan (‘Center Males’), Erica Pinkett (‘Secret Society 3: ‘Til Demise’), Jensen Atwood (‘Velvet Jesus’), Ken Lawson (‘Malibu’s Most Needed’), and Obba Babatunde (‘Black Dynamite’).
Moviefone not too long ago has the pleasure of talking with co-writer, producer and actor Marques Houston about his work on ‘Run’, creating the screenplay, his character’s motivations, designing the look of the aliens, collaborating on the set with the solid, and his shut working relationship with director Chris Stokes.
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‘Run’, directed by Chris Stokes, opens in theaters on August twenty ninth.
Moviefone: To start with, are you able to speak about creating the screenplay with Chris Stokes and the themes you wished to discover as a author?
Marques Houston: Properly, as you realize, my enterprise accomplice, Chris Stokes, who’s additionally co-writer and director, he got here up with the story thought. He gave me a name and pitched it to me over the cellphone and I used to be actually thrilled by the concept. I felt prefer it was an amazing thought. I felt prefer it was one thing that hadn’t been carried out earlier than, and it was very authentic. So, in writing the screenplay, his factor was that he wished to do a sci-fi film the place it had all of the power and operating and all that sci-fi stuff, however he wished to make it a love story. So, I stated, “Let’s actually house in on the love story,” as a result of he is an enormous fan of Steven Spielberg and James Cameron, and the way their films at all times have an amazing love story, one thing that you simply simply root for the characters and also you need them to win. So, we wished to go together with an amazing love story. We put within the love story of my character and Annie’s character as a pair in turmoil that we’re getting engaged and I get left on the altar. Then her ladies take her on this ladies’ journey as a result of she’s so depressed. Within the interim of all of that, now right here we now have this alien invasion. But it surely’s specified to the place they’re. So, it is form of prefer it’s taking place all around the world, however we actually wished to middle it on their story, on the woman’s story with myself included and all the pieces like that. So, we did an amazing love story first after which we put the motion on prime of that love story. That is how we had been capable of assault the screenplay. That is what we actually had been going with, centering in on the camaraderie between the ladies, the love story between myself and Annie’s character, and actually the final word thought of a narrative of survival and the way these buddies should work collectively to outlive. The factor is, you do not see any films like this with an city solid, like with a excessive sci-fi twist. That was a problem, making a narrative like that with plausible sci-fi, so it is not corny or like a comedy. We actually wished to make a critical film, however this situational excessive idea concept that these aliens are taking up.
MF: Are you able to speak about how your character Andre, offers with being left on the alter by his fiancé, and does his emotions change after the alien invasion?
MH: Properly, being left on the altar will not be enjoyable for anyone, in fact. I’ve by no means skilled that earlier than, however I can solely think about the harm and simply the heartfelt crushing that that may ship, particularly to a person’s ego. He is like, “I bought left on the altar. What are you speaking about?” So, that was the story level for me, it was like, how do I actually get into that feeling of being deserted? Then going to the hills to attempt to save the one person who deserted you, and then you definately notice that every one that stuff that is downstairs is simply not necessary. It’s like, “What are we even combating about? Now we’re attempting to outlive.” Then it turns into a take a look at of loyalty and love, and the way can we let all of the nonsense go that we had been combating about? How do we actually get collectively and present that real love and that true bond, and the way can we survive collectively?
‘Run’, directed by Chris Stokes, opens in theaters on August twenty ninth.
MF: From a producer’s standpoint, are you able to speak about designing the look of the aliens and utilizing each sensible and visible results?
MH: That was Chris. He had all these idea aliens in his mind, and he went to paper with it. It took him a few months to advantageous tune and actually get what he wished, and the way he wished to see the alien’s assault. These aliens, I imply, all of us take into consideration aliens because the little head with the massive eyes. So, we wished to go together with aliens that form of reminded us of the aliens that we get fearful of, that we’re used to seeing. Lots of films these days painting aliens extra as monsters. They’ve all these legs, and it is like this monster, you realize? ‘Alien’ was such an enormous hit, and it modified the entire dynamic of how folks seen aliens as extra like monsters. We wished to see these aliens as extra of like increased beings, human form of issues, that transfer like people, they do all the pieces like people, however they’re nonetheless, increased than us. So, that was the idea behind it. It took virtually a yr to get all the pieces carried out with the CG and producing this. It was very costly to place it on the display. It wasn’t AI, we did not wish to use AI, we actually wished to have or not it’s life like. We additionally introduced in like a stunt actor to turn out to be the alien in order that we will get that life like really feel in addition to, versus the CGI. We did a whole lot of inventive issues in creating and placing this film collectively. Simply to see all of it carried out was wonderful for me. I am so comfortable and thrilled that it is carried out, and I am unable to watch for folks to see it.
MF: What was it like working with the remainder of the solid and was there room for improvisation on set?
MH: So, we put the solid along with a bunch of those who we have labored with earlier than and we’re aware of together with Annie Ilonzeh, Erica Mena, Erica Pinkett. It was our first time working with Claudia Jordan. We labored with Drew Sidora earlier than, and Obba Babatunde, who’s only a veteran, we labored with him earlier than. So, we actually wished to have a household really feel of a solid as a result of we would have liked the camaraderie of the ladies and that bond to essentially pour by means of on the display. We wished it to be plausible. So, we did not wish to have a complete bunch of strangers simply meet one another for the primary time. We wished that charismatic factor to this solid in order that once you’re in there and also you’re watching the film, you don’t need anyone to die. You are attempting to root for everyone. You are simply so enthusiastic about all people dwelling. We would like someone to be like, “Oh, no, I did not need that to occur.” So, that is what was necessary with the solid for us and for me as a personality, I do know that I like to be humorous in actual life. So, once I was doing Andre, and I used to be form of simply fascinated by what sort of character I used to be going to be. I actually liked Will Smith in ‘Independence Day’. I liked the truth that he was critical, and he saved the world, however he was additionally humorous. He had moments the place he may very well be humorous and he may very well be charismatic, and he may nonetheless offer you fun after which nonetheless offer you some toughness. So, I actually did pull from that have for myself, as an actor, and I simply wished to return off effectively and I hope it did.
‘Run’, directed by Chris Stokes, opens in theaters on August twenty ninth.
MF: Lastly, are you able to speak about your shut friendship with Chris Stokes and what it’s wish to work with him on set?
MH: I’ve recognized Chris since I used to be eight years previous. He was my supervisor once I was youthful. We’re enterprise companions now. We have labored collectively for thus lengthy. We form of mirror one another’s ideas and we all know what one another’s going to do and what one another’s going to suppose. I do know him as a director, he is aware of me as an actor and as a author. It is nice to have the ability to work with someone that you’ve got recognized for thus lengthy and you could bounce concepts off one another and creatively. It truly is a bond that that we now have collectively as a result of we have carried out so many films collectively. It is like working along with your greatest pal, and it is nice.
‘Run’, directed by Chris Stokes, opens in theaters on August twenty ninth.
What’s the plot of ‘Run’?
When Melissa (Annie Ilonzeh) leaves her fiancé Andre (Marques Houston) on the altar, her greatest buddies persuade her to go to a Cabin within the woods on a a lot wanted “Ladies Journey” to get her thoughts off issues. However issues take an enormous flip when their pal Jenny (Claudia Jordan) is discovered mutilated in the course of the woods. When the information declares an all-out Alien assault on the Nation, the ladies will now should strive their greatest to outlive.
Who’s within the solid of ‘Run’?
- Annie Ilonzeh as Melissa
- Marques Houston as Andre Pierce
- Drew Sidora as Britney Sidora
- Erica Mena as Donnie Mena
- Claudia Jordan as Jennifer Jordan
- Erica Pinkett as Brandy Pickett
- Jensen Atwood as Avery
- Ken Lawson as Ronald
- Obba Babatunde because the President of the US
‘Run’, directed by Chris Stokes, opens in theaters on August twenty ninth.
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