Directed byJesse Atlas, Assassin takes audiences on an action-packed sci-fi thrill ride featuring a stellar cast of top talent, that also includes Andy Allo, Dominic Purcell, Mustafa Shakir and Fernanda Andrade. In the film, a private military operation led by (Willis) invents futuristic microchip tech that enables the mind of an agent to inhabit the body of another person to carry out covert, deadly missions. But when an agent (Mustafa Shakir) is killed during a secret mission, his wife (Mbatha) takes his place in an attempt to bring the man responsible to Justice.

Director Jesse Atlas shares: “Assassin is an exploration of identity. The evolution of drone warfare from remotely piloting machinery to remotely inhabiting another person raises important questions about what it means to truly be oneself. Can we retain our identity when the face in the mirror is not our own? How do we navigate our psyche when cognitive dissociation becomes a daily routine? What kind of memory is imprinted when a complete stranger wraps you in an intimate embrace, and you feel their touch on skin that isn’t actually yours?

It’s a psychological minefield, and co-writer Aaron Wolfe and I were instantly drawn in by the challenge of visualizing and humanizing the story. The concept gave us so many unique storytelling devices to play with, from mind-bending visuals and surreal sound design, to the repeated spoken mantra “This is not my body. But the true gift of this concept was the opportunity to bring the character of Alexa to life with two completely different actors playing her. Nomzamo Mbatha and Andy Allo both came at the character from different starting points, yet fearlessly embraced each other’s choices to discover a shared emotional truth that resonated for both of them,” Atlas concluded.

A refurbished infrastructure complete with digital learning spaces, sports facilities, additional staff and ongoing support all form part of the Foundation’s plans to create a new future for this school that educates 1 280 learners. Furthermore, the Cotton On Foundation’s commitment to the school includes a feeding scheme, the introduction of sporting programmes, teacher training, supplementing operational costs and the provision of literacy materials for learners.

“It is an honour to return to my hometown to attend this auspicious occasion which marks the beginning of a new chapter for Dr JL Dube High School” said Mbatha. “On behalf of the community of KwaMashu, I would like to thank the Cotton On Foundation for investing in this school, knowing that education is key to creating a bright and promising future for our youth,” she added. 

“The child is at the heart of everything we do at the Cotton On Foundation. In line with our Child’s Journey model, we are dedicated to creating secondary pathways, which is why we are so excited about our partnership with Dr JL Dube High School, our second school in the community of KwaMashu”, said Tara Stretch, Manager, Cotton On Foundation. “Dr JL Dube High School is only a short walk from Ethekwini Primary, the first school we built in this area, and a school of choice for these learners as they transition to high school,” she added.