News | Entertainment
12 Feb 2026 13:05
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Mahershala Ali admitted the idea of cloning himself is "tempting"

    The 47-year-old actor - who has four-year-old daughter Bari with wife Amatus Sami-Karim - can next be seen in sci-fi drama 'Swan Song' as a terminally ill family man who decides to replace himself with a carbon copy without telling his loved ones, and he can understand why the idea was so appealing to his character.


    Asked on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' if he'd consider cloning himself, he said: "It's very tempting. I certainly hope that I'm not in that position, but just knowing myself - this is a very difficult question - but I would lean towards the natural order of things, but I absolutely get why this opportunity is so attractive to my character.

    "You know, it's hard to answer without the entire context of what his wife is dealing with as well. But it would be very tempting I gotta say if that were our reality right now."

    The Oscar-winning actor recently admitted he "enjoyed" the "challenge" of playing two characters in the movie and making sure they were very "distinct" from one another.

    He said: "I wanted to be sure they felt distinct and that there were subtle differences that I hoped would collectively add up and read as two different characters.

    "The main way in which that was done was in being very clear about who was in power...

    "It was emotional and challenging, but once I was finished, I could say that it was enjoyable. It felt like we accomplished something that I'd never done as an actor. It felt new."

    Mahershala was excited about the premise of the film as soon as he read the script.

    He said: "As an actor, you get excited by scenarios that feel a little bit impossible. You're like, 'How is this going to work?'"

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     12 Feb: Kerry Katona was convinced she was "going to give birth" when she was rushed to hospital last month
     12 Feb: Ben Stiller thinks Benson Boone could enjoy a successful acting career
     12 Feb: Kim Kardashian has made her first public appearance with Sir Lewis Hamilton at the Super Bowl
     12 Feb: William Shatner had "tremendous" reservations about poking fun at his name in a new advertising campaign
     12 Feb: Dame Emma Thompson has shied away from theatre roles in recent years because she's a "morning person"
     12 Feb: Rick Astley believes the secret to his happy marriage is having "respect" for each other
     12 Feb: Donald Trump has branded Bad Bunny's 2026 Super Bowl halftime show "disgusting"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Kelly Brazier has announced her retirement from international rugby More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Signs the economy is gaining momentum after a tough stretch More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Kerry Katona was convinced she was "going to give birth" when she was rushed to hospital last month 12:51

    Rugby:
    Kelly Brazier has announced her retirement from international rugby 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Ben Stiller thinks Benson Boone could enjoy a successful acting career 12:21

    Rugby:
    Snowboarder Cam Melville Ives has finished eighth in qualifying to advance to the final of the halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina Olympics 11:57

    Law and Order:
    A Christchurch Catholic boys' school was alerted to allegations of sexual offending by a priest nearly 20 years before his conviction 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian has made her first public appearance with Sir Lewis Hamilton at the Super Bowl 11:51

    Entertainment:
    William Shatner had "tremendous" reservations about poking fun at his name in a new advertising campaign 11:21

    National:
    Natural hydrogen can make decarbonising industry cheaper – NZ’s turbulent geology could give it an edge 11:17

    International:
    Possible El Niño within months raising potential for hot, dry year across Australia 11:17

    Environment:
    Areas surrounding the base of Mount Maunganui remain off-limits, and geotechnical experts warn the risk of more slips is still high 11:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd