EXCLUSIVE: Sacha Baron Cohen‘s next film, an untitled scripted comedy, is being quietly shopped to distributors. The comedy was originally set at Universal, and none of the principals would comment. But is sounds like case of déjà vu. I’m referencing Baron Cohen’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Fox turned the first Borat into big hit, but Baron Cohen needed the Borat sequel released before the 2020 presidential elections. And so the film moved to Amazon Studios, got released in October 2020 at the height of election season, and the picture was nominated for two Oscars.
This time, after Baron Cohen’s next project was delayed by the year of double strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA — his last project was to revive his Ali G character in a standup tour — he is anxious for the next film to be released next year after missing the 2024 election season.
Unfortunately, Universal Pictures’ Donna Langley has generated a particularly loaded 2026 slate that includes the untitled film by Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, The Daniels’ untitled follow-up to Everything, Everywhere All at Once, Shrek 5, the next Super Mario Bros pic, a Minions film and several others including product from Blumhouse. There was simply no room to accommodate Baron Cohen and his desire for a 2026 theatrical bow.
That has prompted Baron Cohen’s CAA reps to show the script to other distributors who have slots in 2026. I have heard there is intense interest and that this ought to be wrapped up sooner than later.
Stay tuned.