On the rise after “Get Out,” Lil Rel Howery getting starring roles in film, TV

Like many black comedy stars, he’s hitting it big in his 30s
LilRel Howery as "Dax" in UNCLE DREW. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

Credit: Quantrell Colbert

Credit: Quantrell Colbert

LilRel Howery as "Dax" in UNCLE DREW. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

Originally posted Monday, June 25, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

A vast number of major comedic black stars of the past three decades didn't hit their mainstream mark until their 30s e.g. Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, Kevin Hart, Cedric the Entertainer. (Eddie Murphy was a notable exception.)

Two rising stars and long-time friends - Lil Rel Howery and Tiffany Haddish - are both 38 and on the same upward trajectory. They also happen to be in the same film coming out this Friday: "Uncle Drew," a silly/goofy summer comedy featuring NBA stars pretending to be much older people playing basketball like they are decades younger.

Lil Rel, as he's known, is the focal point of the film, his first starring role since his breakthrough moment in 2017's horror drama "Get Out" as an enterprising, suitably suspicious T.S.A employee.

In “Uncle Drew,” Lil Rel plays Dax, a basketball coach trying to earn a buck by winning the Rucker Tournament, a popular basketball competition in Harlem, N.Y. But his team abandons him and while seeking a replacement, Dax becomes enamored by a 70-something legend from the 1960s known as Uncle Drew, played by Celtics star Kyrie Irving in old-age make up.

Uncle Drew, who is based on a series of Pepsi Max ads from 2012, gets the old team back together, featuring part-time Atlantan Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller and Nate Robinson.

The film was largely shot last year in metro Atlanta and while it's in part funded by Coke rival Pepsi, has a fair share of local connections. Decatur native Erica Ash ("Survivor's Remorse," "In Contempt") plays the grand-daughter of Robinson's character Boots and a potential love interest for Dax. "Midnight Train to Georgia" is part of the soundtrack after Dax and Drew exchange a joke about Gladys Knight and the Pips. Former Atlanta Hawk Dikembe Mutombo and "Real Housewives of Atlanta" castmate and actress NeNe Leakes make cameos.

We spoke to Lil Rel at the Four Seasons Hotel recently about the movie and his new Fox sitcom “Rel” debuting this fall.

From L to R: From L to R: Chris Webber as “Preacher,” Nate Robinson as “Boots,” Lisa Leslie as “Betty Lou,” Shaquille O’Neal as “Big Fella,” Lil Rel Howery as “Dax,” Kyrie Irving as “Uncle Drew,” Reggie Miller as “Lights,” and Erica Ash as “Maya” in UNCLE DREW. Photo by Quantrell Colbert.

Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

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Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert

Q: You are breaking out now with this film and a new CBS sitcom. But like a lot of comics, you are in your 30s and becoming so-called successful. How do you define success?

Lil Rel: I look at success the day I decided to do this full time 18 years ago. Stand-up wise, my big break was “Bill Bellamy’s Who Got Jokes.” Then in Hollywood when I got cast in the “In Living Color” reboot in 2012... I’ve been on TV with something since 2012.

Q: You were on “Carmichael Show” on NBC. What happened to that?

Lil Rel: The network wasn’t behind the show. It was critically acclaimed with solid ratings. They never gave a damn about it. They were into dramas.

Q:  How do you like working with Fox so far on “Rel”?

Lil Rel: Fox is a great home. Fox is where my favorite comedies were growing up: ‘Married... With Children,’ ‘Martin,’ ‘In Living Color,’ ‘The Tracey Ullman Show,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Living Single.’ I’m going to be on Sunday nights with ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Family Guy’ and “Bob’s Burgers”!

Q: What’s it about?

Lil Rel: It’s about a long-distance dad going through a divorce and trying to figure it out.

Q: Did this happen to you?

Lil Rel: It’s real life for me a few years ago. It’s a fresh take on divorce and separation... It’s a multi-cam with a live studio audience. It’s the way I wanted to do it. I don’t like single cam as much. I love the audience reaction. You get the laughs, you know it works or not immediately.

Q: How's the early feedback been from the studio?
Lil Rel: It tested through the roof. There are a lot of dramedies out there. I just wanted you know for sure you'll come and laugh. I wanted to make a sitcom. I love 'Martin' and 'Seinfeld.' I decided to combine both worlds. I love the petty stuff from Larry David. On the sitcom, I hate loose boots, for instance. The leg wiggling about. It drives me nuts! We put that in the trailer and it got big laughs.

Q: Let’s get to ‘Uncle Drew.’ How did you get involved with that?

Lil Rel: They approached me after “Get Out.” I was getting offers everywhere. “Uncle Drew” was the first offer. I am a huge basketball fan. We had sessions with the writers and worked on the script hard. My biggest thing is I wanted the movie to have heart. Some of the most emotional moments in the film are between my character and Drew. Dax is an orphan and he doesn’t have family so Uncle Drew becomes part of his family.

Q: Compared to the basketball players, you had it easy in terms of make up, eh?

Lil Rel: They spent up to five hours as day with make up. I just got to hang out in the hotel. I didn’t see them without makeup until the end. I saw Kyrie Irving later playing with the Celtics and I barely recognized him because I was so used to him with gray hair and wrinkles.

Q: They really aged them, didn’t they?

Lil Rel: These are good looking guys with good skin. They’ll look better in their 70s than these characters.

Q: They re-built the Rucker Park basketball court here in Atlanta. It looks pretty legit.

Lil Rel: They did an amazing job. It was kind of freaky. I almost forgot I was shooting in Atlanta!

Q: You have shot a lot here in Atlanta.

Lil Rel: Right after that, I did "Tag" (a comedy that just came out starring Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm and Ed Helms). Then I did something with Eric Andre. I think I spent more time here than in L.A. last year. It was crazy!

Q: What do you hope viewers get out of “Uncle Drew”?”

Lil Rel: We want people to laugh. It’s a fun ride. It’s really about family and owning up to your BS. Kyrie and Shaq’s characters had a beef for decades. They’re in their 70s before they can clear things up.

Q: Nick Kroll plays your enemy and he seems like he's in a different film, kind of pyscho.

Lil Rel: I wanted Nick. When I read the script, that's who I wanted in that role. I did a show with him in L.A. and we had drinks. I asked him to do this. He's my Gene Wilder! We had great chemistry. A lot of that stuff was improv.

Q: Tiffany Haddish is everywhere. How did you get her to do this?

Lil Rel: I just asked her. She and I are always busting each other’s chops. So her role worked. [She plays Dax’s resentful, opportunistic girlfriend.]

Q: Any basketball highlights while on set?

Lil Rel: To see Reggie MIller come off and hit a three was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. Some of these guys hadn’t played in awhile but it was like a switch went off once they were on court. It was automatic. Lisa Leslie said she hadn’t played in years. She came ion and hit six straight threes posting up. Either she was lying or she’s that good!

FILM PREVIEW

“Uncle Drew,” out in theaters Friday, June 29