Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict discovered a means to attract inspiration from their very own lives whereas filming their new thriller, Divorce within the Black.

“I do know what divorce is and the way devastating divorce may be and the trauma it may well trigger, however I needed to indicate that you’ll find gentle on the opposite facet,” Good, 42, completely instructed Us Weekly whereas selling the darkish thriller. “I’ve the expertise and I would like folks to know there’s gentle on the opposite facet and all you must do is stroll towards it.”

Divorce within the Black, which hit Prime Video on Thursday, July 11, follows Ava (Good), a younger financial institution skilled who’s devastated when her husband, Dallas (Hardrict), abandons their marriage. Ava is set to struggle for the connection till destiny intervenes, revealing Dallas’ depraved deeds which have trashed their marriage — and beforehand sabotaged Ava’s future to be beloved by her true soulmate. The movie is written and directed by Tyler Perry, with Joseph Lee Anderson, Shannon Wallace, Taylor Polidore, Richard Lawson and Debbi Morgan additionally starring.

Navigating her means by way of divorce is one thing Good has performed herself, as she was beforehand married to DeVon Franklin almost 10 years earlier than their 2022 cut up. Whereas she has since moved on with Jonathan Majors, the actress related to her character’s journey of discovering energy after loss.

Hardrict was additionally in a position to attract from his personal life for his position as Dallas, as he and Tia Mowry introduced their divorce in October 2022. The exes, who had been married for 14 years, share son Cree, 13, and daughter Cairo, 6. Whereas talking to Us, Hardrict stated it was vital for him to tackle a task that will encourage others to embrace life’s second probabilities.

“Strolling with unconditional love and peace in your journey,” he added. “That’s what I would like folks to see.”

Hardrict and Good lucked out when it got here to being costars. The pair have been shut pals off display screen for greater than 20 years. It was that form of historical past, Good stated, that allowed them to create a “protected area” whereas delving into the darker features of the movie.

“[It] gave us the protection to discover and work out [their] dynamic,” she instructed Us, noting that Hardrict helped her really feel snug sufficient to dig into “the place [Ava] is correct now” and “what obtained her thus far” in her life.

For Hardrict, working alongside Good was the final word promoting level. “Once I came upon that Meagan was starring on this — Tyler [Perry] gave me the cellphone name and stated that he needed me to play this position — I used to be similar to, ‘Wow, after all, I’d like to work with Meagan.’ I do know what sort of actor she is. She’s a dwelling legend in herself.”

Hardrict knew his friendship with Good would solely assist the mission be extra “particular,” and for him, their familiarity helped create an “superb completed product for the world to see.”

That’s to not say each scene was a breeze. For the extra sinister features of the movie — together with a scene the place he has to “get bodily” with Good and one the place he has to seize Morgan and “name her names” — had been significantly troublesome for Hardrict to shoot.

“I by no means was bodily with a girl in my life, so, you recognize, this was some appearing I used to be doing,” he defined. “I positively needed to service the character and [understand] I’m right here simply to be my greatest, and it’s appearing, and that’s simply what it’s.”

Good had her personal obstacles to climb with Ava, and she or he cited the pressures positioned upon the character as her greatest take a look at.

“Ava was simply dwelling her life attempting to do all the appropriate issues and stay as much as requirements that she felt her mother and father had created,” the Eve’s Bayou actress instructed Us. “And simply that second of honesty, tapping into every little thing that she was [feeling] and letting all of it out — that was positively difficult, [but] in a means that I really admire it.”

Enjoying a task that centered on rediscovery and new chapters was significantly vital to Good. “If you suppose your life is ending, you must know that one thing stunning, and much more life, on the opposite facet,” she stated. “Even whenever you undergo one thing difficult.”

Representing — and provoking — others who might have that reminder was precedence No. 1.

“I simply needed girls — and males — to see themselves on this character and get excited concerning the act of their life,” Good added. “It’s very empowering discovering your self and loving your self, realizing your value and preventing for your self. I hope that’s imparted on everybody who watches it.”

Divorce within the Black is now obtainable to stream on Prime Video.

With reporting by Travis Cronin