Vivica A. Fox, Janelle Monae and Erika Alexander attend the “Is God Is” New York Premiere. Photo Credit: Cindy Ord 
By Okla Jones ·Updated May 6, 2026 < /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… Is God Is can be viewed as a story about revenge, and the women surrounding the film’s main characters leave just as strong an impression as they do. Through Ruby and Divine, played by Vivica A. Fox and Erika Alexander, respectively, the film explores how pain can linger across generations and how survival can take very different forms. Both women are tied to “Man,” the abusive father at the center of it all, yet director Aleshea Harris gives each character a distinct perspective shaped by years of damage, endurance, and unresolved anger.
Fox plays Ruby, the twins’ mother, who the sisters refer to as “God.” Bedridden and physically scarred, Ruby sets the film into motion by summoning her daughters and asking them to carry out revenge on the man responsible for destroying their family. While the character spends much of the film confined to one place, it’s her presence that drives the story. For Fox, stepping into the role meant entering unfamiliar territory as an actress known for far different performances throughout her career.
Vivica A. Fox in ‘Is God Is’ (2026). Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios “Playing a domestic violence victim was totally different for me,” Fox said. “But I love that she was the catalyst to start the revenge mission.” Ruby carries visible wounds from the same violence that altered her daughters’ lives, and Fox leaned into the physicalsrc="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/05/is-god-is-erika-alexander_1777397226-1600x1067-1.webp" alt="Vivica A. Fox And Erika Alexander Talk ‘Is God Is’ And Aleshea Harris’ Vision" width="400" height="266" />Erika Alexander in ‘Is God Is’ (2026). Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
Fox echoed Alexander’s words, pointing to the atmosphere Harris created during production. Despite the film’s heavy subject matter, the cast developed a close bond while shooting in New Orleans. “It’s like a reunion, a high school reunion, to be honest with you,” Fox said. “Everyone checked their ego at the door and the dedication was top-notch. Everyone really wanted to deliver for Alicia.”
Having trust becomes important in a film dealing with violence, trauma, and fractured relationships. Harris builds a world balancing realism with heightened emotion, allowing the women connected to “Man” to exist as more than victims. Ruby, Divine, and Angie, played by Janelle Monáe, all reflect different responses to the same destructive force. Each woman carries her own scars, whether visible or internal, while still fighting to maintain control over her life.
Is God Is premieres in theaters on May 15, 2026.
TOPICS: black films Erika Alexander Is God Is Vivica A. FoxThe post Vivica A. Fox And Erika Alexander Talk ‘Is God Is’ And Aleshea Harris’ Vision appeared first on Essence.