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16 Jan 2026 12:57
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  •   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

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     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Police say a young girl is uninjured, but incredibly traumatised by the shooting at a Waitarere Beach home this week 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Home Alone star Daniel Stern has been charged with a misdemeanour count of soliciting prostitution 12:23

    International:
    Venezuelan opposition leader Machado presents her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump 12:17

    Law and Order:
    Venezuelan families wait in hope for release of political prisoners 12:17

    Rugby:
    After Scott Robertson, the All Blacks face a deeper question than who coaches next 12:07

    Law and Order:
    Three teens are in custody after a burglary in Auckland that triggered a 90-minute police chase, involving the Eagle helicopter 11:57

    Entertainment:
    Sean 'Diddy' Combs has reportedly sold his matte black private jet months after being convicted on prostitution-related charges 11:53

    International:
    Negin Ghadimi wanted to share her voice in protest with Iranians. She died in her father's arms 11:47

    Politics:
    The abrupt exit of All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has laid bare the unforgiving nature of professional sport 11:37

    Politics:
    Questions surround a meeting yesterday between public service boss Sir Brian Roche and former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster 11:37


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