‘HIM’ Digital Release Interview: Tyriq Withers

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tyriq Withers about his work on ‘HIM’, his first reaction to the screenplay, how he related to the character, quarterback bootcamp, Cam and Isaiah’s relationship and working with Marlon Wayans, director Justin Tipping’s vision for the project, and finding out he won his role from producer Jordan Peele.

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Tyriq Withers as Cameron Cade in ‘HIM’, directed by Justin Tipping. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the way it blends professional football with the horror genre?

Tyriq Withers: I think it’s a script that I couldn’t put down. Coming from sports, whether it was soccer and transitioning into college football, it was a dream come true to be able to pick up a script that paid its respects to the sport of football. I think it talked about an athlete that was in pursuit of greatness and I think it just transcends sports in a way where it talks to us all who want to pursue greatness. I think that that road to that can get a little hectic and scary in real life. I think that’s the beauty of horror, where you can really exaggerate or hyperbolize themes and the obstacles it takes to reach that level of greatness.

MF: As a former athlete yourself, could you relate to the pressure on Cam and his dedication and sacrifice to pursue greatness on the field?

TW: I think chasing greatness in the world of sports as Tyriq, it was always rooted in love and family and who I was doing it for was my mom. I think Cam’s story is rooted in that with his parents and specifically his father, that he lost. I think that grief of losing his father pushed him even further because there is no literal validation he could get after his father passed and, “This is what my dad would want.” As an athlete, that’s where I lived and as an artist now, that’s where I live, where I want to prove something to my brother that I lost. I think the world of sports and of college football, the crazy interactions with players or coaches, that is a direct reflection within this movie. Obviously, things are heightened in the film, but I think there are certain feelings. There is a beautiful scene where Marlon’s yelling in my face. He’s saying, “What are you willing to sacrifice?” One of the lines was, “Your father didn’t love you.” I think I’ve come from a world of sports where whether it’s middle school, high school or college, where coaches say things to invoke certain emotions to get a certain performance. That’s not a great way to coach. But I pulled from those experiences and in that scene where I’m saying I want to sacrifice everything; you can hear it in my voice because I’m really triggered and frustrated. I think that’s the beauty of art, the catharsis of art, if you will.

(from left) Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) and Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) in ‘HIM’, directed by Justin Tipping. Photo: Universal Pictures.

MF: Can you talk about Cam and Isaiah’s mentor/mentee relationship, and did you have a bit of that with Marlon Wayans off screen? Was he an actor that you admired growing up, and if so, what was it like working with him on this project?

TW: Yeah, Marlon is an actor who I have looked up to all my life and not only on screen, but him as a human being, and his comedy. So, there was a mentor/mentee relationship developed initially coming on the set. It didn’t get weird like Cameron and Isaiah. I think watching Cameron’s journey between the respect of his idol and pulling back the layers of who Isaiah White is, allowed him to really see Isaiah for who he truly was and really understand, your idol becomes your rival. You know, that’s the beauty and ugliness of sports, where people you look up to will become your rivals. Where Allen Iverson had to crossover Michael Jordan, and AI grew up loving Jordan, but we must do what we must do. So that was a fun thing to play with and Marlon took me under his wing as a younger brother, or an honorary Wayans, I always say. I’m grateful for that brotherhood.

MF: How did you physically prepare to play this role? Did you go to a quarterback bootcamp or have any type of football training before shooting?

TW: I just kind of went to set and showed up. No, I’m kidding. I went in the gym. I had to get physically in shape. So, I was working out six days a week, twice a day. eating 4,000 calories while going to a football camp with Jordan Palmer training with actual QBs prepping for the NFL draft. So, I got to see the training, but also the interview process, the playwriting process, the studying process, and we had Joe Milton there, who currently plays for the Cowboys. Then, Josh Allen popped through to give some words. So, it was a real authentic football experience to really bring to the character and I carried that on screen. Hopefully that resonates with everyone, because I took it serious coming from football. I played wide receiver, so it was a bit of a transition to learn the quarterback position.

(from left) Marlon Wayans, director Justin Tipping and Tyriq Withers on the set of ‘HIM’, directed by Justin Tipping. Photo: Universal Pictures.

MF: What was director Justin Tipping like to collaborate with on set?

TW: Justin was a beauty to have as a director where he allowed us the freedom to bring ourselves to the role, but also pushing us to places that we couldn’t even imagine. I think his vision, his eye for story, is immaculate and I think there’s certain themes and writing aspects of this film that he fought for that I’m grateful to have. He paid his respects to the sport of football, even though he came from soccer. I think that’s a testament to him as a director, where he’s able to find the common themes and create specific stories. I feel like the more specific a story is, the more universal and relatable it will become, and he created a piece that I think will be studied for generations. I think it will age like fine wine.

MF: Finally, how much interaction did you have with producer Jordan Peele on this project? Was he on set during production and what were some of his contributions while filming?

TW: Yeah, he was on my initial casting Zoom when they told me I got the part. They were like, “Jordan Peele is hopping on the call. Do you know who Jordan Peele is?” I’m like, “Do I know who Jordan Peele is?” He was there to share the news and we had a couple meetings and we got to hang. He came to set a few days, but wasn’t there every day because as a producer, you put the right people in the right positions to curate the art that you want to tell. I think that’s the genius of Jordan Peele, where he knows exactly who to put where. He gave me some words of affirmation and really gave me the extra added confidence to walk on set and really do my thing as Cameron Cade.

(L to R) Director Justin Tipping, Tyriq Withers (as Cam), Producer Jordan Peele, and Marlon Wayans (as Isaiah) on the set of ‘HIM’, from Universal Pictures.

What is the plot of ‘Him’?

When rising quarterback Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma, legendary championship quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans) offers to train Cam at his isolated compound. But Cam’s training and Isaiah’s charisma soon begin to curdle into something darker, which may cost Cam more than he ever bargained for.

Who is in the cast of ‘Him’?

Jordan Peele attends the Academy’s 2019 Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom on Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Hollywood, CA. Credit/Provider: Troy Harvey / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

List of Films Directed Or Produced By Jordan Peele:

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