Wanda Sykes Pulls Off Her First Dramatic Acting Role: See an Emotional Scene from “Undercard” (Exclusive)
Wanda Sykes Pulls Off Her First Dramatic Acting Role: See an Emotional Scene from “Undercard” (Exclusive)
Tommy McArdleMon, February 23, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC
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Wanda Sykes takes a dramatic turn as a former boxing champion who resolves to mentor her estranged son in her new movie Undercard
PEOPLE has an exclusive look at the movie, including a scene Sykes shares with costar William Stanford Davis (Abbott Elementary)
Undercard is in theaters Feb. 27
Wanda Sykes is going dramatic.
On Monday, Feb. 23, PEOPLE can exclusively debut an emotional clip from Sykes' new movie Undercard, in which she portrays a former boxing champion and recovering alcoholic named Cheryl Stewart, who tries to forge a relationship with her adult son as he embarks on his own boxing career, years after Cheryl abandoned him.
Sykes is an executive producer on the movie: she costars in the film with actors Bentley Green, Estella Kahiha, Xavier Millis and Abbott Elementary's William Stanford Davis.
Undercard marks Sykes' first film role since 2021, when she appeared in Breaking News in Yuba County. The stand-up comedian more frequently takes her acting talents to television series, and the movie marks a rare dramatic turn for her.
Undercard movie poster
Catalyst Studios
"When Cheryl 'No Mercy' Stewart, a two-time former boxing champion and recovering alcoholic, reaches out to the 21-year-old son she abandoned, she is met with deep-seated resentment," reads an official synopsis for Sykes' new movie. "Keith Stewart, a naturally gifted fighter, relies on raw talent — but without discipline or focus, he can’t reach the top. After a devastating loss caused by his gambling addicted trainer, Keith’s career loses direction and his confidence takes a hit."
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"Cheryl sees a chance not only to save her son’s career, but to reclaim the family she lost. With everything on the line, mother and son enter an uneasy partnership, balancing ambition, forgiveness, and the price of a second chance," the synopsis adds.
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The movie is directed by Tamika Miller, best known for directing episodes of television series like Station 19 and The Equalizer, as well as the 2020 BET Original movie The Christmas Lottery and the 2023 film Honor Student.
Undercard made its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in October 2025. The movie hits theaters Feb. 27. Following Undercard's release, Sykes will next appear in the movie Deck the Y'alls, a holiday comedy she costars in with Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain, as Variety reported in September.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
