Mahershala Ali to star alongside Julia Roberts in Netflix's Leave the World Behind

Actor Mahershala Ali is all set to star alongside Julia Roberts in the upcoming Netflix thriller Leave the World Behind, which is based on Rumaan Alam's novel of the same name.

The project has Mr Robot creator Sam Esmail attached as the director. Esmail will also adapt the novel to screen.

Leave the World Behind has a story that follows two families that are strangers to each other. They are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong. Alam's novel is suspenseful and provocative, and is keenly attuned to the complexities of parenthood, race, and class. It explores how our closest bonds are reshaped—and unexpected new ones are forged—in moments of crisis.

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The film will be produced by Roberts through her Red Om Films banner and Esmail and Chad Hamilton through Esmail Corp. Alam will also executive produce, with Red Om’s Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill.

The original novel was published in October 2020 and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Awards. The novel was listed as one of Barack Obama’s Summer Favorites and featured in A Read with Jenna Today Show Pick.

Ali is best known for his Oscar wins for Moonlight and Green Book. Ali's next film Swan Song, which he starred in and produced, is set for a release on December 17. He is also gearing up to star in the titular role in Marvel's Blade.

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