If anyone is more equipped to bring to life a story about surviving the multiple, outlandish personalities of their siblings it would be Marlon Wayans.
In what has been over 20+ years in the making, Marlon Wayans is finally taking a leap of faith, stepping away from the parody style of comedy that’s made his family famous.
Though launching his career in comedy under the Wayans family empire in the early 90’s with classic sketch comedy shows such as “In Living Color”,sitcoms like “Wayans’ Brothers”and a host of parody movies, (see: “White Chicks”, “Scary Movie,” “50 Shades of Black”, etc.)served as the perfect training ground for honing his craft, the youngest of 10 has been eager to establish his own comedic voice apart from his hilarious siblings.
For nearly seven years now, the 47-year-old comedian has worked tirelessly creating a host of solo projects in attempts to establish himself as more than just a Wayans brother. The result has been a far cry from the often vulgar and raunchy style that dominated the earlier years of his career. With age has come maturity and Marlon, like the comedians before him, has moved into a more family-friendly space while managing to keep the same slap-happy and punchy delivery for which we’ve grown to love him.
Nowhere is this growth more evident than in his recent work with Netflix. In just a few short years, Marlon has released several projects on the platform including his sitcom, “Marlon,” movies like“Naked”and now “Sextuplets.”
Directed by Michael Tiddes of “White Chicks” and co-written by long-time collaborator Rick Alvarez, the knee-slapping-ly funny Netflix Original movie follows Marlon as Alan, a middle-aged, soon to be father, on his journey to find his lost family after learning he was born a sextuplet.
In his most ambitious piece of work to date, Marlon takes on not one, but all six (seven if you count the surprise ending) of his siblings’ characters. From his loud-mouthed, sassy, ex-con sister, Dawn, and his lovably child-like, cereal eating brother, Russell, to Jasper, the light skinned-freckled faced criminal mastermind of the family, Marlon leaves no stone unturned in displaying his unbelievable creativity and range as an actor.
We caught up with Marlon to chat about the evolution of his comedy career, the road to “Sextuplets” and what’s next for everyone’s favorite baby brother.
CD: “Sextuplets” follows your character Alan on a journey to locate his long-lost siblings, who also happen to be sextuplets. You play all six. How did you and the team develop the personalities and come up with the backstories for each of the six character?
MW: I think that was my performance high school and method acting training that came into play. I wanted to make sure they were all different and each character had a soul.
What’s funny is that as much improv as I did on the movie, I never improvised a joke or something that was inappropriate for the character. Every character’s improv was different according to who they were and what situation they were in.
It was a lot but I think you should define the soul of the character first, then give them the voice, mannerisms and facial expressions then you put the makeup on top of that.
CD: Who was your favorite character to play?
MW: I like the characters that took the least amount of time in make-up. So, Alan and Ethan. Honestly, I really like Ethan because although he and Alan are identical, they have two completely different mannerisms and facial styles. Even their stances are different identical. You know? When looking at those two characters I’m like, “That’s good acting.”
CD: If you could assign one of your onscreen siblings to one of your real-life siblings, who would be who?
MW: I will say Dawn is a combination two of my sisters. Everyone else is completely original.
CD: Really? Ethan was giving me a lot of Damon vibes.
MW: HA! Ethan is Damon if he didn’t make it in Hollywood.
CD: Speaking of your siblings, this is one of the first major films you’re doing on your own, outside of your family. How does it feel to branch out on your own with something this large scale? Did you look for advice or approval from your family when making the film?
MW: My brothers have been great to me and my family has been a wonderful training ground but I didn’t actually look for any approval. I stopped looking for approval of things I do a while ago. I think in order to create your own identity, to stand apart and to grow as an artist, you have to live and die on your own sword.
The first 20 years of my career was about building the legacy of Wayans and the last five to seven has been about trying to build the legacy of Marlon So, it’s about what I think is most important. How do I feel about what I’m doing? I’m trying to develop my own instinct. If I sit and wait on notes, even though it’s probably accessible to me, I feel like it’s a hindrance to where I’m trying to get as an artist. Some projects I do they may not like. The next thing I do, they might like it a little bit. The next one they might go, “I like MOST of this”, and so on. I think this is the one that will make them all proud.
CD: I agree! It’s clear you’re starting to find your voice as a comedian and as an audience, we’re learning what to expect from you. The Marlon Wayans we’re seeing in “Sextuplets” and even your Netflix sitcom “Marlon,” is drastically different from the Marlon we knew in the early 90s. Talk to me about the shift in your material and how you’ve evolved.
MW: I think I’m just maturing as a comedian. Well, I’m maturing as a man and that definitely helps you mature as a comedian. I’ve also been doing standup comedy for about seven years now and that has helped me to grow a lot. It really helped me find what’s funny about my voice.
I can talk about my life in a way that is transparent and yet find the humor in it. I’m just proud of my development and where I’m going.
I also stopped doing parodies. I want to create stories that have meaning, stories that allow me to grab on to emotions and display the fact that I can act. it’s about showcasing all that I can do. I’m not just a comedian. I’ve got real acting skills. I’m theatrically trained.
The movies that I’m doing now and the trajectory I’m heading towards is a good place.
CD: Back to family. There was a scene where your character Alan accidentally gives up his kidney for his brother Baby Pete. Having such a huge family of 10 siblings, what are some major sacrifices you’ve made for family throughout your career?
MW: I sacrifice every day. When you’re the youngest you sacrifice your voice, your seat at the dinner table. You sacrifice getting up and getting your brother’s water even though they’re grown ass men and can get it themselves. I sacrifice a lot. I don’t like to argue with my brothers or my family. I understand the hierarchy. Whatever I can do to contribute, let me know and I’m down.
CD: Your main character was what most would consider the ideal husband. He’s kind, compassionate, responsible, etc. You’ve made it clear in previous interviews that marriage really isn’t your thing. Did playing this role change your mind?
MW: I’m a great human being. I’m a wonderful friend. I’m the best brother. I’m a sweetheart but I’m also smart and sweet enough to try to not break somebody’s heart by trying to be something I know I’m not mature enough for yet. I don’t know when that will happen but I never sat and thought, “I want to be married.” I’d rather just love you. It’s easier for me without all that responsibility. I can love you unconditionally, which to me is the most effective and greatest love. Friendships don’t break. Marriages do.
CD: At least as far as on-screen marriages go, how fun was it to play alongside Bresha Webb who plays Alan’s wife, Marie, when you two bickered so much on “Marlon”?
MW: Bresha is such a great actress. She’s also a performing arts high school kid. So, I knew she could play anything and I wanted to give her the chance to play a leading woman. Also, it’s a good look for Alan to have this beautiful movie about this beautiful black family and to have a beautiful black woman to play his wife in the movie. I wanted to give her a chance to showcase what she can do.
CD: Yes! It was also great to see a dark-skinned woman in this role, especially because of how difficult it still is for women of darker skin tones to see themselves reflected in those leading spaces.
MW: Absolutely! Listen, I have five sisters and they all range from light chicken to black licorice and I love them all. That’s how I feel about black women in general. I just love them all and I think that we should have diversity within our diversity.
CD: Is that why Jasper, the black sheep of the family in this movie, was light skinned with freckles?
MW: EXACTLY! I thought it was fun to have the light skinned one be the black sheep. He’s just so damn crazy.
CD: We can’t end the interview without touching on the parallels between “Sextuplets” and the work that Eddie Murphy has done with movies such as “Coming to America” and “Nutty Professor” where he’s played multiple characters. How much of an influence was Eddie’s work to you when making this movie?
MW: Eddie is the G.O.A.T. man. You’re talking about the greatest comedian and entertainer of our generation. I’m more than happy to be inspired by Eddie. He’s that great that he’s inspired me. He’s also inspired Martin. But Eddie Murphy was inspired by Richard Pryor who did “Which Way Is Up?”. Richard Pryor was inspired by Charlie Chaplin when he did “The Great Dictator”and played three different characters. So, we’re all inspired by somebody. One day a young cat is going to be inspired by what I did in “Sextuplets”. I think it’s just the beauty of the evolution of comedy.
CD: What’s next for you?
MW: I’m probably going to start working on writing my next television show. I’m working on that now. I also plan on doing a special at the end of the year. I don’t know for who yet, but I’m going to go sell that and then I want to do a buddy action comedy next.
Also, now that my sitcom’s over, I’m going to do a really dope half-hour comedy with some drama in it. I’m just spreading my wings and at the end of the day I’m showcasing all that I can do.
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