“I feel like Keanu in ‘The Matrix'”: Marlon Wayans feels at the top of his game ahead of Niagara Falls show

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Marlon Wayans is performing at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario this Thursday. Wayans wants his audience to “expect the unexpected” and promised great stories that push the boundaries.

“Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m gonna do, but expect it to be funny,” he said. “I’m in a great place in my career, I’d say, creatively. I’m starting to see things in slow motion that I’ve never seen before. I feel like Keanu in ‘The Matrix.'”

The show will feature all-new material, following the release of Wayans’ special “Good Grief” in June. The special featured Wayans talking about the loss of his parents, how his father’s religion affected how the Wayans family celebrated holidays, the premature deaths of celebrities and more. He spoke to WIVB about using comedy as a form of healing.

“I don’t think I like to be sad, and I don’t want people to be sad,” he said. “So I want to take pain and turn it into humor, because then it’s healing and you can laugh at your pain.”

Wayans said that each special he does “gets closer and closer” to his core and how he’s wired, and that the “Wild Child” tour is no exception.

“It’s become much more therapeutic,” he said. “I don’t do divisive topics, I talk about me and what I’m going through and people can’t take that from you. You can’t take experience and truth.”

Wayans said that his new material “releases the audience,” as he doesn’t target the crowd, instead punching down on himself during crowd work.

In addition to comedy, Wayans has also taken on roles in two large projects — “Him,” a psychological thriller produced by Jordan Peele’s production company Monkeypaw, as well as “Bel-Air,” the dramatic reimagination of ’90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

In “Him,” Wayans plays a retiring star athlete who is training his promising young teammate. The film is set for release next September and was directed by Justin Tipping, whom Wayans referred to as “a great young director.”

“It’s a great movie, I can’t wait for people to see it,” he said. “It’s definitely something you haven’t seen me in before and a role you’ve never seen me in before.”

In “Bel-Air,” Wayans portrays character Will Smith’s father Lou. Wayans first appeared in the shows first season, reprising his role in season three this year.

“I’ve been working on my dramatic skills as well as my comedy skills,” he said. “I feel like everything’s starting to come together. These are my great years — this is what I’ve been training for.”

Regarding a recent report that a “Scary Movie 6” is in the works, Wayans denied any involvement as of now, but said he’d be up for a return to the franchise he created with his brothers Keenan and Shawn.

“Absolutely [I’d return],” he said. “We created that monster, so of course I would love to get back in there and do something great.”

Wayans also said he’s been drawing inspiration from the books he’s been reading, including “BE 2.0” and “The Art of War.” He said he prefers books to music while working, as he likes to work in silence.

“I don’t really do a lot of music because when I think about music and things like that, it distracts me from my work,” he said. “I like to hear myself think.”

Wayans’ show is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on Fallsview’s OLG Stage.

“You’re gonna come out and you’re gonna laugh for about an hour 15 to an hour and a half,” he said. “It’s nonstop laughter and some good stories. It’s a work of art, come see it.”

Tickets to the show are available at this link.

Adam Duke is a digital contributor who joined WIVB in 2021. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.