Lionsgate’s newest action thriller, Shadow Force, blends the emotional depth of a family drama with the genre’s usual roller-coaster highs. More importantly, it’s found the perfect cast to make that combination work, with Kerry Washington and Omar Sy leading an A-list ensemble with aplomb. Directed by Joe Carnahan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Leon Chills, the story follows two elite operatives who fall in love against their organization’s rules.

Kyrah Owens and Isaac Sarr leave Shadow Force, getting separated for a time in doing so even as they share a son, Ky (Jahleel Kamara). Their reunion in the film, however, does not mean they are free from the operatives chasing them or from the resentments they’ve developed towards one another due to their previous separation. The action thriller also stars Mark Strong as Jack Cinder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Auntie, Method Man as Unc, Ed Quinn as Parker, Marvin Jones III (also known as Krondon) as Cysgod, and much more.

ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley spoke to several cast and crew members on the Shadow Force red carpet, discussing the movie’s incredible journey from page to screen. Washington praised her co-star Omar Sy, Randolph explained her excitement to participate in action scenes, and Jones addressed whether his role as Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse could translate into live-action.

Read some of our red carpet interviews below, and watch the full video.

Kerry Washington Took An Unusual Route To Recruit Omar Sy Into Shadow Force

“I Had My Husband’s Permission To Slide Into Omar’s DMs”

ScreenRant: Kerry, I heard you personally got Omar Sy involved in this film by sliding into the DMs.

Kerry Washington: I had my husband’s permission to slide into Omar’s DMs. He loved the idea of Omar in this role, and I didn’t want to go through the normal agent route. So, I did that, and then I waited by my phone like a teenager. But finally he DMed me back and said, “I’ll read it, let me read it.” And I was so happy that I was like, “What’s a good way to get ahold of you?” And then we started emailing.

I’m so happy he said yes. I feel like him saying yes leveled up the whole film. He made it into a global story about a black family whose love really crosses boundaries, languages, and culture to fight for each other. So, I’m really excited he said yes.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph & Omar Sy Break Down Their Shadow Force Roles

“The Movie Was So Special That It Couldn’t Be Done A Normal Way”

ScreenRant: I heard that you got involved in this film by Kerry Washington hitting you with a DM, and you were kind of like, “Is this the real Kerry Washington?” Can you talk to me about that exchange and what your reaction was?

Omar Sy: My reaction was like, “Is it really her?” at first. You have to make sure that it’s not a prank and, in the end, it actually was her.

But I am telling you that shows how special this movie is. It’s not the way stuff’s going on because the movie was so special that it couldn’t be a normal way to sell. And after that, it’s all about helping her to have that connection that we have. Having that relationship to speak really frankly to each other, having that direct connection and dialogue. So, it was good.

ScreenRant: The role of Auntie was basically written for you, and then after you said yes to it, you were like, “I also want to do my own stunts.” Talk to me about your insistence on doing the action.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph: Joe was cool with it. I mean, he was really adamant about wanting to create something for me. I asked him what his thoughts were, and he was like, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As it went on, we really started to try to carve out something that felt real and authentic, and something that would resonate and change things up a bit from what we’re used to seeing.

Krondon Reveals His Favorite Shadow Force Action Sequence

The Tombstone Voice Actor Also Addresses Live-Action MCU Possibilities

ScreenRant: Shadow Force revolves around two special agents breaking the rules at work and having to leave. Tell me a little bit about your character and some of the crazy action set pieces you take part in?

Marvin Jones III: There’s a lot of shooting guns, high-caliber automatic weapons that I actually never handled before, and we do that a lot. There’s also just explosion after explosion. I won’t give it away, but leading into the finale, there’s this incredible cinematic trick scene that is just the coolest thing ever. Shout out to Joe Carnahan. We’re making that happen, brother. Thank you. So, yeah, it is dope.

I’m going back in my mind, and the boat scene is what I remember the most. The boat scene was sick. Yeah, the boat races on the water and all of that stuff was really live. There’s no CGI in this film, man. It is on location. Every stunt was done and executed to the fullest in real time; at real speed. A lot of unpredictability, a lot of explosions that had to happen a few times. It’s incredible, man.

ScreenRant: We love your work from Into the Spider-Verse, where you voiced Tombstone. Is that something you’d ever want to pursue in live-act?

Marvin Jones III: Yeah, I would. There’s been some talks. I can’t give away anything, but yeah, I would. That world over there, brother, you don’t know and you can’t say nothing until you can. So, it’s something I would love to do.

I’ve been blessed to work in both DC and Marvel universes, and Marvel has just been great to me. So, anything they want me to do, I’ll do.

Check out the rest of our red carpet interviews below:

And don’t forget to read our full Shadow Force interview with Kerry Washington & Omar Sy here.

Source: Screen Rant Plus