Lil Rel Howery Talks ‘Haunted Heist,’ Comedy And Building His Own Lane

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentLil Rel Howery Talks ‘Haunted Heist,’ Comedy And Building His Own LaneByDesjah Altvater,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Desjah is an entertainment contributor, focusing on music.Follow AuthorAug 21, 2026, 12:45pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Lil Rel Howery attends the 53rd Annie Awards at Royce Hall on February 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images)Getty ImagesLil Rel Howery has been in the game for nearly two decades, and he’s spent that time making a strong case that being funny is just the beginning. His early comedy credits date back to 2007, but Howery has never been content to stay in one lane, moving from stand-up into television, film, writing and producing along the way. For plenty of moviegoers, his breakout as TSA agent Rod Williams in Get Out made him impossible to forget—a role that turned him into the friend everybody wanted in their group chat during a horror movie.Now, with Haunted Heist, his feature directorial debut, Howery is stepping behind the camera while also starring in and executive producing the horror comedy. For him, directing doesn’t feel like a career pivot so much as the natural next move. After nearly two decades in Hollywood, he’s learned that longevity means knowing how to do more than one thing. Directing isn’t a new direction so much as another part of the toolkit he’s been building all along.ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 15: Lil Rel Howery speaks onstage during the premiere of "Haunted Heist" at Regal Atlanta Station on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Haunted Heist)Getty Images for Haunted HeistLil Rel Howery Found His First Love In HorrorHowery’s love for filmmaking started long before he was making movies. He grew up watching ho...