Omar Epps has always been intentional about his moves. 

Across decades in the game, the veteran actor built a career grounded in emotional honesty, consistently stepping into roles that explore vulnerability, accountability, and personal evolution. From his early breakout in “Juice” to becoming a romantic staple in “Love & Basketball,” and later a television mainstay on “House,” Epps has long gravitated toward characters that feel real,  men navigating pressure, identity, and purpose in ways audiences could recognize and feel.

Now, the executive producer takes on one of his most spiritually layered roles yet with “Moses the Black.” 

Starring in and executive producing the film, Epps helps bring the powerful story to life, which is currently in theaters. 

The film follows a modern-day Chicago gang leader on a journey of reckoning, inspired by the true story of the fourth-century saint of the same name, a man once known for violence who ultimately found redemption through faith and transformation.

When speaking about Malik, the emotional core of the story is what pulled him in first.

“I connected to the idea of someone coming to an impasse in their life and realizing they have to become the change that they’re seeking,” he explains, noting the layered psychology that lives inside the character’s turning point.

That inner battle mirrors the film’s broader meditation on redemption, not as a destination, but as an ongoing practice. 

For the seasoned actor, transformation isn’t triggered by one singular loss or dark moment, but by the willingness to course-correct.

“Redemption is always possible… it ebbs and flows,” he says. 

“Getting back on track is a version of redeeming yourself.”

That philosophy extends beyond the screen. Reflecting on his own evolution, the seasoned storyteller speaks about growth as a constant, particularly in relationships, self-awareness, and emotional maturity. 

He describes enlightenment as a vulnerable in-between space, no longer who you were, but not fully settled into who you’re becoming. The film also leans heavily on spirituality, symbolized through Malik’s grandmother and the quiet moral compass she leaves behind. 

For Epps, guidance appears less as objects and more as voices, especially from his children.

“Do the right thing when no one’s looking,” he says, laughing. 

“Then you look in the mirror like… you gotta practice what you preach.”

That duality between violence and spirituality coexisting is what makes “Moses the Black” feel human, and Epps sees it as universal.

“We have this idea of perfect creation… but duality exists in everything. It’s why we can laugh and then cry.”

Off camera, that same balance applies to business as well. Working alongside 50 Cent, who serves as the film’s producer, offered its own education in discipline and leadership, something Epps says he continues learning from as he expands his creative ambitions.

And at this stage of his career, his choices are guided less by legacy and more by connection.

“When I read the script, I felt like it was necessary,” he says. “Time is fleeting… I want to live it to the fullest.”

See the film in theaters now. Check out the trailer below.