The Devil You Know: Omar Epps & Michael Ealy to star in Lionsgate thriller

Lionsgate and Command Films have cast Omar Epps (Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Shooter) and Michael Ealy (Stumptown, Fatale) in a new thriller from director Charles Murray titled The Devil You Know.

Per Deadline, Epps will play Marcus Cowans, who after a lifetime of trouble, finally has the chance to turn things around with the love and support of his family. But when Marcus discovers that one of his three brothers (Will Catlett) might be involved in a home invasion, he finds himself not only at odds with his brothers but also in the crosshairs of a cop (Michael Ealy) who is deeply involved with his last case before he retires. As Marcus tries to do right by his family, he finds himself spiraling back into the dark place his family helped him overcome.

Woof! It sounds like Marcus will have to make some tough choices as he navigates the line drawn between family loyalty and being a man of honor. I don’t envy his position, and I certainly wouldn’t want to be Marcus when he has to explain to his own mother that he’s in the process of investigating his own brother.

Joining Epps and Ealy for The Devil You Know is Glynn Turman, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Theo Rossi, BJ Britt, Vaughn Hebron, Erica Tazel, Curtiss Cook, Keisha Epps, and Ashley Williams. Murray and Marc Danon are producing through Command Films, with Roy Scott MacFarland, and Jackie J. Stone. Epps, and Ealy executive producing.

“We’ve been wanting to work with Charles for a long time, and with The Devil You Know, he has made a riveting film, punctuated by Omar and Michael’s performances — they give the characters real emotional weight. We’re thrilled to be bringing the movie to audiences everywhere,” said Lauren Bixby, VP, Co-Productions and Acquisitions for Lionsgate.

Murray added, “I’ve lived with this idea for many years, and seeing it come to life with this stellar cast and driven crew has been nothing short of a dream come true. Loving movies as much as I do, having the opportunity to work with Glynn Turman, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Omar Epps, Michael Ealy, and the rest of the cast has been equally rewarding as a fan and as a creative. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Epps chimes in, “The Devil You Know is an exploration of family, morality, and brotherhood. It challenges generational and cultural conditioning in an authentic way that leads back to protecting one’s humanity. I’m excited for audiences to experience this film for years to come.”

“For me, it always starts with what’s on the page,” said Ealy about the film presenting him with a unique opportunity. “I’ve been positioning myself to work behind the camera so when Charles and I were discussing another project, he sent me this script. My connection to this family was immediate and I was intrigued, especially because I didn’t come from a big family. I wanted to be involved and after a few deeper conversations, it was apparent that my interest went beyond being in front of the camera. Thankfully Charles agreed.”

The Devil You Know is just picking up steam, so we’ll be sure to let you know more as the project develops.