2025 Annual Awards Interviews: Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm and the cast of “Triggered 2.0”

Join host Olivia Lyle (@olivialyle1) for an exclusive interview with producer and co-director Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm alongside key cast members of Triggered 2.0 (USA), the film awarded Best Fantasy Short of 2025 at IndieX Film Fest Annual Awards. Captured by Kyle Reed (@thekylereed) at Regal LA Live, Los Angeles.

Triggered 2.0 follows the diabolical madman known as The Director 2.0, who harbors a vendetta against Wolverine. Plotting to steal Wolverine’s powers and use him as a distraction, The Director sets in motion a deadly plan to destroy all superpowered beings by forcing Wolverine to fight his only ally, Blade, in a brutal fight to the death. Lucas Bishop, caught in the crossfire, must find a way to break free of this control to save his friends—and humanity itself.

Producer and co-director Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm shares that The Triggered trilogy has been a labor of love aimed at enriching the landscape of genre film by creating opportunities for actors who represent disabled and diverse communities. He honors the late Steven James Tingus—a close friend, co-star, and co-producer—whose passion helped launch the project. Triggered 2.0 is a homage to Steven, fulfilling his dream of leading a superhero film, a dream that resonates deeply with the entire creative team.

Notably, the first film in the series, Triggered, was also awarded Best Fantasy Short of the Year by IndieX Film Fest in 2023.

Watch the interview, and trailer, below to hear Marcus and the cast discuss their dedication to representation in genre filmmaking, and the challenges of producing a superhero saga on an indie scale.