Mahershala Ali has replaced Denzel Washington as the lead in upcoming Netflix thriller Leave The World Behind. The film is based on the novel by Rumaan Alam, an apocalyptic tale that follows a couple, Amanda and Clay, during what should be an idyllic weekend getaway with their children. When the owners of the home they are renting, Ruth and G.H., show up amidst a mysterious power outage that has swept through New York, relationships are examined and put to the test as the lines between family and friend blur.
Julia Roberts is set to star in Leave The World Behind opposite Ali in a co-lead role. The actress will also produce the film under her Red Om Films banner. Little else is known about the adaptation, including which character Roberts will be playing. Denzel Washington was also attached to star when the project initially landed at Netflix, but now another star will be taking on his role.
Deadline reports that Ali will now play the role Washington was set to play. The report does not indicate if he will be playing Clay or G.H. Additionally, Leave The World Behind has no production start date.
Leave The World Behind is yet another film that Ali can add to his upcoming roster. Although the actor has worked since 2003, making appearances in everything from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2 to House of Cards, it was his Oscar winning performance in Barry Jenkins' Moonlight that put Ali on the map. Ali would go on to win Best Supporting Actor again for Green Book and now he's got even bigger projects lined up.
Ali is the star of the MCU's Blade film, which recently found its director, but has yet to receive a release date. It's unclear which film he will shoot first, but Leave The World Behind is a contained story, taking place over a short weekend in one location. This means he could film the movie rather quickly before taking on the more time consuming superhero role.
Leave The World Behind could also land Ali (and Roberts) in the awards conversation when it is released. Despite being a tale of an impending apocalypse, it is light on world-ending spectacle and focuses more on themes of parenthood, race, and class. Ali could be potentially playing G.H., one half of the older couple who owns the house Amanda and Clay are staying at. Roberts seems primed to play Amanda, but pending anymore information, much about the upcoming film will remain a mystery.
Source: Deadline