Former NFL player Vernon Davis discusses his transition to music, post retirement and his new movie The Ritual Killer
In an exclusive conversation with The SportsGrail, NFL player Vernon Davis recently discussed his amazing journey from the game of football to the worlds of music and entertainment.
Former NFL player Vernon Davis talks about his impending movie “Please Don’t Feed the Children” with Michelle Dockery
The former NFL tight end made an interesting turn when he announced his retirement from the league in February 2020, after 14 long seasons winning a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos and becoming a two-time Pro Bowl player.
With roles starring Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson, Thomas Mann, and Rosa Salazar among others, he has maintained an extremely hectic schedule in Hollywood, having filmed over 30 projects. The 6 ft 3 in former San Francisco 49ers player talked about his March 10, 2023 release, “The ritual killer,” and his role in it.
You can currently see me in The Ritual Killer opposite Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman and Yellowstone’s Cole Hauser. In the film, I play a serial killer named Randoku, who kills based on a brutal South African tribal ritual known as Muti. When Randoku goes on a spree in Mississippi, it’s up to Morgan, who plays a college professor, and a local detective played by Cole to stop me.
The 39 year old former Washington Redskins tight end, who established two production companies namely, Between the Linez Productions and Reel 85 talked about his upcoming movie:
Most recently, I joined the cast of Destry Allyn Spielberg’s directorial debut feature Please Don’t Feed the Children. The apocalyptic thriller – toplined by Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery -follows a group of orphans who head south in search of a new life after a viral outbreak that ravages the country’s adult population, only to find themselves at the mercy of a deranged woman harboring a dangerous secret. I’m not sure when the movie is set to be released, but you’re not gonna want to miss it!”
Vernon’s achievements in the recording studio extend beyond his work in movies. Recently, working with multi-platinum music producer Tone P, he released his debut rap album “Showtime” under the stage name Vern.
What inspired your interest towards the world of entertainment and music?
“Though football had always been my priority, I was drawn to the arts. By my junior year at the University of Maryland, I had fully embraced my creative side. I took an art studio class as an elective and liked it so much that I ended up majoring in it.
“Once I arrived in San Francisco to play for the 49ers, I signed up for an acting class at the Shelton Theater of the Arts. That led me to focus on small projects in the offseason while continuing to take acting classes. When I stopped playing, I just wanted to see where acting would take me, so I started working on the craft even more. Since retiring, I’ve filmed more than 30 projects with the likes of Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson, Thomas Mann, and Rosa Salazar, among others. It’s been an amazing experience.
“The music really came from me just exploring. When I was playing with the Commanders, I started writing poetry, and then was curious to see what it might sound like with some instrumentals behind it. After recording some music on my MacBook, I reached out to a couple of people to come in and help me fine-tune everything, and that’s where the music came from.”
You recently released your rap album and you love listening to rappers like Tupac and Jay-Z, can we expect some collaboration with Jay-Z or other rappers in the future?
“I’ve already collaborated with some incredible people for my first album “Showtime,” including fellow D.C. native and multi-platinum music producer Tone P. The body of work also includes collaborations with Grammy Award-winning producer Zaytoven, Rolling Stone-recognized rap authority 3ohBlack, Young Dro, Codey Got Beatz, Black Cobain, Lightshow, Kidjake, and SportVVS.
“So, yeah, you can expect more collaborations in the future. You’ll just have to wait and see. It would be awesome for Jay-Z to be one of those collaborators. From your mouth to Jay-Z’s ears!”
When can we see you in the next movie? Would you like to try some new genre?
“You can currently see me in The Ritual Killer opposite Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman and Yellowstone’s Cole Hauser. In the film, I play a serial killer named Randoku, who kills based on a brutal South African tribal ritual known as Muti. When Randoku goes on a spree in Mississippi, it’s up to Morgan, who plays a college professor, and a local detective played by Cole to stop me.
“Most recently, I joined the cast of Destry Allyn Spielberg’s directorial debut feature Please Don’t Feed the Children. The apocalyptic thriller – toplined by Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery –follows a group of orphans who head south in search of a new life after a viral outbreak that ravages the country’s adult population, only to find themselves at the mercy of a deranged woman harboring a dangerous secret. I’m not sure when the movie is set to be released, but you’re not gonna want to miss it!”