I am a simple woman: I watch any movie starring Rosamund Pike. Ladies First stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Pike. Therefore, it was a must-watch for me, and I overall enjoyed it. Like many of the film’s critics, I think it could have done a few things better, but Ladies First’s heart is in the right place.

It’s a movie that uses multiverses to tell the story of a man coming to understand his privilege. I wish it were more similar to some of the best movies about multiverses, because then its messages may have been a little stronger. Nonetheless, unfortunately, Ladies First covers some topics of gender equality that remain relevant.

Warning: Ladies First spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

Ladies First Acts As a Reminder That Gender Equality Is Still An Issue Today

Damien (Sacha Baron Cohen) is a misogynist who cannot see women beyond sex objects. He then gives one of the most self-involved, out-of-touch-with-reality speeches ever put to film. He believes life is now harder for him as a heterosexual, white male. He believes society now caters to the marginalized to become more politically correct. The thing that makes Damien’s speech hard to watch is that so many men actually believe this nonsense.

They think the world now makes things harder for them, despite proof that white men still dominate many fields, and sometimes it’s the main criterion to obtain a powerful position. You almost believe that movies such as Ladies First shouldn’t exist anymore. Surely people have evolved past that reductive way of thinking? Many men cannot think of women just in terms of what they can do for them, right?

You can find many podcasts, influencers, books, or articles written by men with these ideas that women are inferior and so deserve fewer opportunities. Thankfully, it’s not as normalized as it was in the past. Additionally, many men disagree with this behavior and thought process. It’s not a common thing, but still too popular for people who cannot understand beyond their own worldview. They relate to Damien and men like him in Ladies First.

It Made Me Think Of Similar Movies & Wonder If They Still Work In Modern Times

Ladies First isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s a remake of a French film called I Am Not an Easy Man. What Women Want, 9 to 5, Hidden Figures, and many other great movies that may be ideal for something such as Women’s History Month often deal with the idea of tyrannical men who undervalue and dismiss their female employees or just exhibit sexist behavior. Damien fits right along with many of these men.

It takes something drastic for them to understand their problematic behavior. I have seen What Women Want, 9 to 5, and Hidden Figures. I know Hidden Figures still holds up as an excellent movie celebrating inspiring Black figures. It also highlights gender equality in a very fascinating way. I rewatched 9 to 5 a few years ago, and I believe it still works and is still very funny. It’s one of the best movies of the 80s for a reason. Now What Women Want is a movie I saw so long ago, and now I have no clue if it holds up.

It feels the most similar to Ladies First, so very curious if it offers insightful commentary on gender equality, or totally misses the mark. Ladies First made me want to review films similar to it to see if they aged well and how relevant or irrelevant they are to today’s landscape.

I Actually Enjoyed Ladies First's Romance, But Feel Conflicted About It.

I don’t believe I have ever watched Sacha Baron Cohen in a romantic comedy. Therefore, I wasn’t expecting him to have some of the romantic lead charm. He does. Rosamund Pike and he have instant chemistry as Alex and Damien. You almost want them to get together, despite how repulsive Damien is at times.

However, this is nowhere near one of the best rom-coms of all time for many reasons. The main being that Damien never earns her love or trust. It also appears that he only sees her as a real person (in the alternative universe) when they become intimate. He realizes that he likes her, so he doesn’t want to take away an opportunity.

It makes his final decision feel a bit disingenuous, almost as if he’s doing it to eventually win her over romantically. Additionally, there are so many moral dilemmas when an employee sleeps with their boss. Damien doesn’t tell the lawyers that they slept together, and it’s treated as a noble deed. However, Alex should be reprimanded for sleeping with an employee, just as a male boss should be, especially if coercion is involved. It isn’t in this case, but it’s a gray area when corporate romances happen.

I enjoyed Alex and Damien’s romance because of their chemistry, but the nature of it felt a bit off-putting because of the power dynamic and boundary issues.

The Movie Effectively Showcases The Awfulness Of Certain Male Archetypes

Damien has 0 likeable traits at the start of Ladies First. He doesn’t really become that likable by the end of it either. He just becomes more tolerable. Damien is portrayed and written as an extreme example of this type of behavior, but it still exists. Too many men act and think like Damien. They are just as unlikable as him.

Men like him lack self-awareness, so they could see the character’s behavior and not realize the connection to their own behavior. However, it’s nice to see men like this mocked and reprimanded in movies, instead of celebrated in some spaces. We need more criticism of this type of man.

Damien's Character Growth Was A Little Unbelievable, But I Think That Doesn't Matter

Damien spends most of Ladies First trying to steal Alex’s job. He still has the mentality that he deserves it, but never truly demonstrates why. He just engages in a petty competition. The film itself points out that Damien still doesn’t understand that this is not his birthright as a man.

He only truly starts to grow and change when he and Alex have sex. He then makes the decision not to tell about this intimacy. If he did, he would have gotten what he wanted. Once Damien arrives back in his world, he immediately finds Alex and gives her what she wants. This leads to Alex and the company’s success.

I am never fully convinced Damien learned his lesson, but I think we need to see Alex have success. Ladies First isn’t a movie that’s going to change lives, but you never know what may inspire someone. Women and girls seeing Alex’s success may inspire or encourage them to stand up to their bosses, go after their dreams, or take on a challenge at work. It could also inspire men to be better bosses, more open, or stand up and be beside and behind women. Even silly movies can become powerful to the right audience.

There have been plenty of movies that swap gender roles in an attempt to bring attention to the disparities that roughly half of humanity face on a daily basis, and the latest of those Ladies First has dropped on the 2026 movie schedule. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike, the new Netflix comedy imagines a world where women have all the power, but according to the reviews, the filmmakers aren’t as successful in their endeavors as they likely hoped.

Damien Sachs is the misogynistic ad exec at the center of Ladies First, who hits his head and awakens to a world where men are objectified for their appearance and regularly sexually harassed. However, according to William Bibbiani of The Wrap, the movie never finds the right balance between being a comedy and a morality tale. His Ladies First review reads:

Katie Rife of RogerEbert gives the movie 2 out of 4 stars, writing that it’s “shallow” to think that a society ruled by women would adopt the same practices as one run by men, and this simple turning of the tables feels outdated. However, the point is not to imagine a feminist utopia, Rife says:

Todd Gilchrist of Variety says the same thing in his Ladies First review, acknowledging that the new Netflix movie makes some good points, though nobody who needs to hear them is going to click on this particular title. It also feels outdated and doesn’t say anything that hasn’t been said in movies several times before. Gilchrist writes:

Frank Scheck of THR admits there are enough gags in Ladies First that some are bound to land, but that doesn’t change the fact that this movie is “hopelessly old-fashioned.” He writes:

Alex Harrison of ScreenRant rates the movie 3 out of 10, saying Ladies First actually perpetuates “the patriarchal thinking it purports to upend.” Instead of seeing an entitled man get what’s coming to him, we’re made to sympathize with the way Damien is treated and root for his success. It’s “insulting,” Harrison says and a “shameful misfire.” The critic continues:

It sounds like Ladies First isn’t connecting with critics the way the filmmakers likely intended, but despite the message possibly not coming through, it sounds like there are plenty of clever jokes and some laughs to be had. Don’t let the reviews deter you. If you want to check out Ladies First for yourselves, fire up that Netflix subscription, because the comedy is available to stream now.

One of the big reveals on the 2025 TV schedule so far is Sacha Baron Cohen officially joining the MCU as the supervillain Mephisto in Ironheart. Following his arrival in the Disney+ series earlier this month, the Borat actor is pulling a popular Marvel actor move and showing off a truly insane body transformation. (Take that, Chris Pratt and Kumail Nanjiani!)

Photos from Sacha Baron Cohen’s profile on Men’s Fitness magazine were revealed on Instagram on Wednesday, and the comment section got as spicy as you’d imagine it might. Check out the photos below:

As the magazine’s cover reads, Cohen went “from Borat to buff in 25 minutes a day”, and the results are rather impressive. Check out some of the comments below:

• “Is this AI?” - Chelsea Handler
• “🔥” - Gal Gadot
• “I'm sorry, but thirst trap Borat was not on my 2025 bingo card” - @sierra.c.c
• “Very nice! How much?” @lacerdaemmanuel
• “And he’s 53. Dude looks incredible” - @sinaman13
• “That’s not borat that’s Gymrat” - @idr3sss

A couple of big names added their thoughts to the reveal, but the comments from the fans are really pretty amazing. Everyone's obviously in a bit of shock and amazement over the photos that show off Cohen’s latest accomplishment regarding his body. But after some people suggested it was AI, his trainer Alfonso Moretti (aka “The Angry Trainer”) had this to say in the comments to assure people the photos are absolutely real:

From the interview we’ve seen already (via Deadline), Moretti said that the actor’s body “looked like a ruler, straight up and down” before he started his program. But once the results started kicking in, the Marvel costume department even had to make alterations a few times to complement his new physique.

In April, Sacha Baron Cohen announced that he and Isla Fisher had decided to “jointly” file for divorce after being married for 13 years. Given that context, a ton of other people commented over it being something of a divorce bod. Prior to that, Cohen was also in the news when Rebel Wilson claimed he pressured her to be nude in a movie. Otherwise, Cohen’s last role prior to joining the MCU was in the Apple series Disclaimer in 2024.

The Borat actor turned up in Episode 6 of Ironheart as Mephisto after long being rumored to be playing the role. Following the reveal, Marvel president Kevin Feige said “the potential is clear” in a recent interview with our sister site, GamesRadar, for the character who is basically the MCU’s version of the Devil, but of course the question is, where will we see him next?

Despite its so-so premiere episode, as well as the review-bombing that preceded its premiere, Marvel’s Ironheart series quickly ramped up to become a surprisingly solid addition to the 2025 TV schedule. Especially for a project that was expected to drop two years ago. Part of the lasting hype has revolved around the MCU’s long-awaited introduction of the comic demon Mephisto and his deal-affirming handshake with Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams in the finale.

At first glance, Riri entering into an agreement with the MCU’s nefarious soul-snatcher seems like a fool’s errand for the young hero, despite the evil entity seemingly offering up her greatest desire: for Lyric Ross’ Natalie to be alive again in full-fleshy form. The scarring marks that forms on her arm in the final seconds of the finale, combined with the Chicago teen’s connections to Iron Man and her Doctor Doom-esque mix of technology and magic, makes it look like Riri is indeed destined for villainy,

Not so fast, however, as that widespread assumption kind of ignores a big Mephisto detail from the Ironheart finale that should have audiences feeling less than confident about the tricky baddie’s potential to upend the MCU’s upcoming Phase 6 movies and beyond. Let's never forget the time-honored idea that deals with the devil don't go well for anyone.

Mephisto's Deal With Parker Wasn't Exactly A Raging Success

Ironheart made it seem as if Riri wittingly made a Faustian deal, and possibly without even having to voice her biggest wishes aloud, just for the chance of seeing her best friend again outside of A.I. holograms. But even though we're unclear on the specifics of that bargaining, and are unclear of how it will pay off later, the details involved with Parker's deal with Mephisto were laid out clear enough.

Anthony Ramos' put-upon antagonist desired power, wealth and respect, which Mephisto seemingly granted him in the form of his own magical hood. However, ronheart didn't exactly start off with Parker depicted as a popular billionaire playboy, and despite enjoying his gang-leading role as "The Hood," Parker was constantly struggling. His team members might have followed his orders, but their feelings soon spiraled away from anything representing respect as the cloak's magic twisted his personality more and more.

Plus, once Riri put her mind on actually stopping Parker instead of following along with his schemes and ploys, her intellect and cunning rather quickly liberated him of Mephisto's hood, making the demon's promises of granting him more power negligible. So if Parker came out of that "deal" without any lasting power, wealth or respect, why should we think Riri's deal will go differently? Natalie is 100% destined for another tragedy, and Riri is 100% destined for renewed trauma through heroism, and not villainy.

Fan Theories Suggest Natalie's Return Could Set Up Tony Stark's Doomed Resurrection, But I'm Iffy About It

In the final minutes of Ironheart's finale, not counting the credits or mid-credits scene with Parker and Zelma, Riri is seen putting her brainpower to work with her Ironheart armor in the background, only with the striking non-focused detail of Mephisto's hood resting on it. That, combined with the mysterious scars spreading across her arm as she hugged Natalie, not only point to a dark future for the brainiac, but fully introduce a new form of magical resurrection into the MCU. (The residents of Westview would have preferred that one to what they got in WandaVision, no doubt.)

Certain sections of the MCU fandom are keen on the idea that Mephisto was somehow behind the drive-by shooting that killed Natalie and Riri's step-father, with an eventual goal of pushing Riri into such a dark corner that her only move would be to make a fate-sealing deal to bring her BFF back to life. With that precedent set, it's possibly Riri or someone else could then make a deal for Tony Stark to return, but likely with repercussions akin to "The Monkey's Paw" and Pet Sematary, leading to Victor Von Doom's emergence, with the armored and morally tainted RIri at his side.

It's a fun theory, don't get me wrong, and it could very well turn out to be correct. But I don't really buy it, since Natalie died years before Mephisto appeared to Riri. Even if Mephisto is a demon with a different view of time than humans, I think he'd have ways to get what he wanted quicker, and without an in-between like Parker being involved. Plus, you can't tell me dozens (or even hundreds) of others wouldn't have shaken hands with the devil to bring Tony back in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, so it would be silly that the otherwise unconnected Riri would be a required piece of that resurrection puzzle.

Ironheart's Future Is Unknown, But I Don't Think Riri And Mephisto Are Destined For Avengers: Doomsday At All

Dominique Thorne's name wasn't amongst the dozens of cast members announced via chair-back for Avengers: Doomsday — nor was Sacha Baron Cohen's — and neither actor has been officially connected to the in-production sequel, and neither has been at the heart of substantial rumors. To be sure, the full Doomsday cast will no doubt remain unannounced until the movie is in audiences' faces, so I can allow for Riri and Mephisto's respective Avengers movie debuts as possibilities, especially without any renewal or cancellation news for Ironheart.

In contrast, though, the series was produced ahead of Kevin Feige & Co. shaking up their intentions for interconnections between Disney+ shows and theatrical features, and its release was reconfigured to serve as the swan song for Phase 5. Let's also remember all the Mephisto-based excitement to date has stemmed mostly from the streaming TV side, with WandaVision and Agatha All Along serving up the bulk of the speculation fodder.

So even though Riri Williams was introduced as part of Black Panther 2, and even though her tech-heavy talents are probably easier to budget for a big-screen release, I think Ironheart is a hero that works best in episodic form, and is more suited to return in a second season, or in another series with a different group of heroes than the Avengers. I'm pretty sure her tech would go a long way in helping Agatha and Billy Maximoff track down his brother Tommy, too. Just saying.

So, to reiterate all my jibber-jabber with a holo-projected bow placed on top:

• Making deals with Satan is dumb, and neither Riri nor Mephisto will get what they truly want for very long.
• Ironheart is a Marvel hero with good intentions, and Marvel heroism always wins.
• Mephisto won't be responsible for whatever plot device is responsible for Victor Von Doom looking like Tony Stark.

As it goes, though, I could be way off-base here, and we might see Mephisto leading a whole army of Ironheart clones against Thor, Hawkeye and other heroes. We might also see Deadpool take over Professor X's role leading the X-Men, or something equally ridiculous, like Marvel's Blade movie finally getting made. We'll just have to wait until Avengers: Doomsday hits the 2026 movie schedule on December 16, or until Marvel offers a legitimate update on the Disney+ series, whichever happens first.

It was revealed just last week that Hollywood stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher were divorcing after over a decade of marriage in their 22-year relationship. Said news was announced personally by Cohen on social media. The two actors seldomly talked about their marriage while they were together, only occasionally sharing insight into their domestic life. Now, on the heels of the divorce announcement, a source has dropped supposed details about what their relationship was like. And, if they’re to be believed, Fisher and Cohen’s dynamics were somewhat different from those of their famous peers. 

An unnamed individual claimed that while they were together the two (who share three children) got along well. What the insider specifically highlighted while speaking with People is that they weren’t like a number of other notable couples. As for why that supposedly was, the source cited one specific reason: 

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher became acquainted with each other in 2001 after meeting at a party in Sydney, Australia. They eventually became engaged in 2004 but didn’t actually end up tying the knot until 2010. They have two daughters, who were born in 2007 and 2010, as well as a son, who was born in 2015. While their relationship apparently  wasn’t all that “typical,” the insider claimed that it suited the pair: 

While taking part in an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! back in 2020, Isla Fisher opened up about being married to the Borat actor. She specifically spoke about the kind of conversations she and her former hubby would have when he’d film “dangerous stuff” for his comedic mockumentary films. (That Trump prank he attempted comes to mind.) She also recalled an instance in which one of his Borat movies was crashed by the cops while she was visiting the set with their kids. The Tag actress also shared a few other memorable moments of personal time. For example, in early 2023, Fisher and family went to the Caribbean, and she dropped some photos from the trip.

Sacha Baron Cohen shared the divorce news on his Instagram account along with a photo of him and his ex. As he put it, “after a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down.” Cohen explained that he and his former partner jointly filed to end their marriage in 2023 and are now seeking privacy as their family seeks to move forward.

At this point, it’s probably a foregone conclusion that the relationship between both Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen is changing along with their domestic situation. One hopes that as that happens, both can move forward in the way that they feel is right for them.

Another Hollywood couple has called it quits after two decades together. Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher announced they are divorcing after 14 years of marriage. Baron Cohen made the official announcement on social media.

The estranged couple usually remains quiet about personal matters, but word was spreading about the lack of appearances from the power couple, including vacation photos. After much speculation, the Hollywood stars released a joint statement, which Baron Cohen posted on his Instagram Stories. Look at the surprising and heartbreaking message from the Borat star below.

According to Cohen’s words, the couple was working on their marital issues for some time before dissolution became the only course of action. The soon-to-be-exes met in 2001 at a party in Sydney before getting engaged in 2004. They officially tied the knot in 2010. They share three children – two daughters and a son. 

The notoriously private couple maintained that angle by prioritizing their children’s privacy over public perception. Either way, the news is surprising considering how much the comedic pair gush over each other at Hollywood events. However, there appeared to be relationship issues that the usually mum couple didn’t share.

According to Page Six, the couple’s divorce announcement might’ve been in the works for some time. Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher were living separate lives for a while. Fans and the media first began questioning their relationship status after Fisher hid her left ring finger for a London fashion event last December. Speculation grew as she showed up at the Vanity Fair Oscar party solo with a cocktail ring replacing her wedding ring. The Wedding Crashers star recently enjoyed a theatre girls’ night with Oscar nominee Naomi Watts and Downton Abbey’s Michelle Dockery. 

Fisher wasn’t the only one seen mingling around Hollywood solo as Baron Cohen was spotted out at several Oscar parties. The comedic actor was out partying with other Hollywood A-listers at the CAA party. He enjoyed his new singledom after the actor was reportedly spotted at pop icon Madonna’s exclusive post-Oscars bash The Party earlier this year. The The Dictator star even hung out with Metallica’s Lars Ulrich at the Time Women of the Year gala around the same time.

According to the publication, a close source claimed Sacha Baron Cohen met with divorce lawyers in Los Angeles late last year. However, the couple officially filed for divorce in London where they currently reside. The divorce announcement is just the latest surprise news to hit the Brothers Grimsby star’s fans. His Grimsby co-star Rebel Wilson called him out in her upcoming memoir for challenging experiences shooting the comedy. He vehemently denied Wilson’s accusations, saying he had “extensive detailed evidence” to contradict her claims.

As the soon-to-be-former couple move on, their acting careers continue without any bumps. Sacha Baron Cohen is pivoting to TV with the upcoming miniseries Disclaimer and Ironheart airing on Apple TV+ and Disney+, respectively. Airdates are currently unknown. Isla Fisher is currently starring in the Peacock series Wolf Like Me. She will return to feature films in an untitled Netflix coming-of-age drama starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Check out our schedules of upcoming movies and TV series. 

Hollywood has a long history of well-documented feuds, ranging from Val Kilmer's disputes with Marlon Brando to the notorious disagreements between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, as well as more recent clashes like Bill Murray with Lucy Liu and the car crash-inducing dispute between Tom Hardy with Charlize Theron. In her new memoir, Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson hints at a conflict she had on one of her film’s sets with an "asshole." Facing what she alleges to be intimidation tactics from a professional PR team, Wilson is taking a stand. He has decided to break her silence by naming her The Brothers Grimsby co-star Sacha Baron Cohen as the individual she refers to in one of the chapters of the upcoming release, revealing this in a candid social media post.

While Sacha Baron Cohen is known for his humorous characters, his former co-star paints a different picture of the man behind the comedy. Wilson and the Borat star played a married couple in the 2016 comedy Grimsby (The Brothers Grimsby in the US) and the actress has been vocal about her challenging experiences during filming. The actress has openly shared her experiences on the set of the film, claiming Cohen pressured her into nudity and then opted for a body double after she declined. These allegations have resurfaced with the release of the Cats veteran's forthcoming book, in which she devotes an entire chapter to a specific incident involving the actor. In a bold move, Wilson took to her Instagram stories, sharing:

In a previous revealing Instagram video posted on March 15, the Jojo Rabbit actress shared her evolving perspective on working in Hollywood and adopting a no-asshole policy. In the post, she recounts:

According to Variety, Rebel discussed in a 2014 radio interview on the Australian show Kyle and Jackie O how she felt pressured by her co-star to appear nude in their comedy film. She considered alerting their mutual agent about what she perceived as harassment. Wilson recounted in the interview: 

A representative for Cohen has released a statement to TMZ. They refuted the actress's claims to the publication, saying:

As you can see, this story is still developing. If there are any updates, we will be sure to inform our readers.

Set for release on April 2, 2024, Rebel Wilson's memoir, Rebel Rising, is currently available for preorder. Transitioning from a Hollywood star to an author, Wilson is set to offer readers insights beyond her encounters with difficult co-stars. The book promises an expansive look into her life, including a detailed discussion of her journey to lose 60 pounds—a goal she achieved despite the challenges. Additionally, Wilson opens up about how fame's pressures led her to stress-eating habits, like indulging in donuts, a cycle she knew she needed to break.

If you are curious about what to watch if you like the Senior Year star, the film mentioned, as well as others starring Wilson, is available with a Netflix plan, whereas her most iconic role as Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect is available to anyone with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. 

Forget the body doubles, merkins and modesty socks. There are plenty of high-profile movie stars so committed to a project, punchline, or character that they’ll happily stand before the cameras wearing only their birthday suit. Over the decades, full-frontal nudity has become increasingly normalized in mainstream movies. It's no longer the exclusive domain of NC-17-rated indies or art house movies by provocative European directors.

As our selection of 10 actors who were fully nude in a movie illustrates, major celebrities are now far less reluctant to put their privates on display, baring all in everything from R-rated comedies to award-winning dramas. Hell, given the awards pedigree of the films on this list, it might even up their odds of gaining industry accolades. Their willingness to drop their pants is often a sign of a fearless commitment, and can be employed to signify a character’s state of mind, challenge social taboos, and foster greater acceptance of the human body in its various guises.

Michael Fassbender (Shame) 

Michael Fassbender bared body and soul for his role as Brandon Sullivan, a New York executive in the grip of sexual addiction. Released in 2011, Shame’s opening moments frankly convey Brandon’s compulsive routine of sexual activity. We’re presented with a succession of post-coital moments in which Fassbender awakes after another one-night stand, wandering naked around his empty apartment in a series of unflinching long-takes. Shame takes a cold, hard look at one man’s isolating and self-destructive urges. And as Fassbender commented of the film’s frequent nudity to The Guardian,

Barry Keoghan (Saltburn)

This 2023 psychological thriller stars Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, an Oxford scholarship student eager to assimilate into the university’s wealthy milieu. After befriending the handsome Felix Catton, he’s invited to spend the summer at his family’s manor of Saltburn. But could there be a darker motive for Oliver’s infatuation with Felix?

Well - *spoiler alert* - yes. The film’s audacious coda finds Keoghan dancing starkers through his newly inherited home of Saltburn as “Murder on the Dancefloor” plays – a wickedly bravura moment filmed in one eyebrow-raising long-take. Explaining the significance of his character’s nude revelry, Keoghan explained to EW: 

Emma Thompson (Good Luck To You, Leo Grande) 

Joining the growing ranks of actors who were fully nude for a movie, Emma Thompson bared all as former teacher Nancy Stokes in the 2022 comedy-drama, Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. Having never experienced pleasurable sex and ashamed of her body, Nancy hires the handsome Leo Grande to action a kinky itinerary on which the missionary position is just a stopover on the way to Climaxistan.

After enjoying her first orgasm, the film’s final moments see Nancy disrobe in front of the hotel mirror. Candidly appraising her reflection – her lumps, bumps, and lolling breasts – a permissive smile graces her face. It’s a powerful moment, indicating that Nancy’s finally gained a degree of compassionate self-acceptance.

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is one of the best sexually explicit movies on Hulu, and it's available to stream now with a Hulu subscription.

Jennifer Lawrence (No Hard Feelings)

Although Jennifer Lawrence first bared all in Red Sparrow, it’s her iconic performance in 2023’s No Hard Feelings that had people choking on their popcorn. Lawrence plays 32-year-old Uber driver Maddie Barker. Threatened with bankruptcy after her car is repossessed, she finds work wooing the socially awkward son of two rich parents in exchange for a Buick Regal.

J-Law’s nude beach scene is the highlight of this R-rated comedy. As Maddie tries to seduce Percy by taking him skinny-dipping, their clothes are stolen by a group of obnoxious teens. Without thinking, Maddie storms out of the water, whooping their asses as the Hall & Oates’ song “Maneater” plays. Lawrence – who turned down a body double – approaches the scene with gutsy aplomb, hilariously conveying Maddie’s brash, devil-may-care character.

Scarlett Johansson (Under the Skin)

Known briefly as “Scarlett Johansson’s nude movie,” the actress was breaking into Marvel territory when she accepted a distinctively different role in Jonathan Glazer’s 2013 masterpiece. She’s barely recognizable as a female-presenting extraterrestrial, who stalks the Scottish highlands to kidnap and harvest unsuspecting male prey.

Johansson’s big reveal comes three-quarters of the way through the film. Lit only by the red glow of an electric heater, and observing her limbs in a vertical mirror, flickers of cognition animate her otherwise impassive face to suggest a burgeoning consciousness. Gradually identifying with this human form, the otherworldly being interrogates the curve of her neck, the mechanics of a knee, and the undulations of bone beneath skin.

Under the Skin is an unforgettable viewing experience. You can stream it now when you sign-up for an HBO Max subscription.

Gary Cole (Blockers) 

When three young women plan to lose their virginity on prom night, their overprotective parents do everything to stop them. But it’s the adults that get into the most trouble in Blockers, the 2018 comedy from Kay Cannon.

With Ron (Gary Cole) withholding the adolescents' whereabouts, Mitchell breaks into his house to find the texts confirming their location. But to do so he has to evade Ron and his wife as they play a sex game blindfolded. Cannon amusingly parodies the velociraptor scene from Jurassic Park as Ron stalks through the kitchen towards a cowering Mitchell, before he lurches into shot and flashes audiences worldwide an eyeful of his… meat and two veg.

It's a hilariously orchestrated scene, that, thanks to Gary Cole’s game performance, helps level the playing field between male and female nudity onscreen: promoting what Fandom catchily dubbed #Ballsforboobs.

Daniel Craig (Love Is The Devil) 

Daniel Craig made waves exiting the Atlantic like a chiselled Adonis in Casino Royale. But he’d already bared it all in the 1998 biopic Love is the Devil, in which Craig portrays George Dyer, the lover and muse of painter Francis Bacon whose volatile relationship ends in tragedy.

During a scene of strained intimacy, there’s a prolonged shot of Craig’s 007. Taking a soak in the tub, Dyer anxiously asks if he’s still invited to Bacon’s Paris exhibition. “Of course you’re coming. You are the exhibition” the artist retorts. Then the film cuts to an aerial shot of Craig – and there’s no mound of bubbles to obscure his manhood. It’s a moment that foregrounds the film’s queer gaze, echoing the artist’s infatuation towards his troubled muse.

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power Of The Dog) 

Director Jane Campion is known for her poetic treatment of the male nude. And for this acclaimed, 2021 drama, she turned her camera towards Benedict Cumberbatch as the gruff Montana cowboy Phil Burbank. The Power of the Dog is still one of the best movies on Netflix, garnering 11 Oscar nominations.

Brimming with toxic masculinity, Burbank relentlessly torments his brother’s wife and her teenage son. But, away from the ranch, Phil embraces moments of sensual pleasure. Ensconced in nature, we watch him find peace with himself and his desires as he cakes his entire body in mud before plunging headlong into the water. Subsequently, he retires to a glade, where he can indulge in the remembered touch of Bronco Henry – his former mentor and, it’s implied, lover – without any shame.

Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary)

Making her reputation for being one of those actors who went fully nude in a movie, Maggie Gyllenhaal broke into the Hollywood limelight with her acclaimed performance in 2003’s kinky rom-com Secretary.

As Lee Holloway, her character finds personal transformation through a BDSM relationship with boss Edward Grey. And the ultimate expression of her fidelity is when she sits stock still for three whole days until he eventually returns.

Taken with her obedience, her dom partner tends to Lee with complete devotion. Gyllenhaal’s subsequent nudity in these final scenes reflects her character’s awakened physical and emotional openness. As the camera pans out from her face, she narrates how he traced every inch of her body while she divulged the history of each of her self-harm scars. It’s a moment of awestruck intimacy, as Lee experiences being seen and accepted in both body and soul.

Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat)

It’s one of the most daring scenes in cinema history: Kazakh reporter Borat and his producer Azamat engaging in a balls-out brawl that erupts out of their San Diego hotel room and into a packed mortgage conference. This 2006 black comedy has no shortage of provocations, but what makes this scene work so well is Sacha Baron Cohen’s willingness to push things to their extremes. It’s a wildly chaotic two minutes as Borat ruts against his producer’s ample behind while throttling him, before the 250lb Azamat tries to asphyxiate Borat between his butt cheeks. It’s shockingly funny as personal boundaries and rules of public decorum are blithely transgressed, and the chaotic scene ends when the naked duo are apprehended by hotel security.

Interested in discovering other A-list actors who were fully nude in a movie? Check out our round-ups of the best sexually explicit movies on Netflix and sexually explicit HBO Max movies.

For MCU fans, so much of the lead-up to any upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows is inherently tied to parceling through endless rumors to suss out which ones are most likely, and which aren’t worth the time it takes to read them. One of the more hard-to-ignore points of speculation in recent years has been the theoretically imminent arrival of the villainous comic string-puller Mephisto, who fueled seemingly every other fan theory that came out of  WandaVision’s run. For months, Borat comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has been affixed to Mephisto rumors by way of a reported casting, and it looks like Marvel has finally been able to confirm at least one part of that.

Sacha Baron Cohen Confirmed For Ironheart Cast

To be fair, rumors about Sacsha Baron Cohen joining the upcoming Disney+ series Ironheart have been sputtering around for seemingly as long as we’ve known about Riri Williams’ standalone miniseries. Now, Marvel has confirmed the full Ironheart cast list via a filing with the U.S. Copyright Office, and you can bet your bippy that the Ali G Show creator is part of that official lineup.

Here’s the thing, though. Instead of being extremely clear and up front about things, Marvel’s copyright filing offers an additional layer of speculation fodder. Because Cohen isn’t specifically noted as playing Mephisto, but rather is given the presumably false moniker of “Mystery Man.” But that’s not stopping any amount of guesswork, understandably.

Is Mystery Man MCU-Speak For Mephisto?

The easy theorization route would be to go with “Yes, Mystery Man is just a pseudonym that Marvel is giving Mephisto to continue throwing fans off the trail.” After all, supposed details about the actor’s upcoming role weren’t just shared in a one-off vacuum, but have been the subject of several different reports that came out during Ironheart’s principal production. 

Not only was Sacha Baron Cohen linked to the devilish character, but details about his alleged plotline also spread around. Particularly the notion that Mephisto, or an iteration of the character, is the entity responsible for buying up Avengers Tower, which would answer a long-held question that has gone unaddressed for years now. The idea is that the MCU’s Mephisto is heavily invested in advanced, high-end technology, which is what reportedly puts Dominique Thorne’s MIT-conquering hero in the villain’s sightlines, with Anthony Ramos’ The Hood rumored to be invested in that arc as well.  

But then the flip side of that coin would be that Marvel has some kind of switcheroo planned here, since it’s a bit baffling for Cohen’s casting to remain unexplained when such a large swath of the fanbase may already be convinced of Mephisto’s arrival. This is obviously old-hat behavior for the MCU, and since no one will ever forget the bizarre nature of Ben Kingsley’s turn as Trevor Slattery in Iron Man 3, that may play into why no one is willing to double down on linking Bruno star to Mephisto proper. 

The hellacious villain sparked fan interest even before WandaVision, as influenced by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. introducing Ghost Rider and other supernatural-leaning characters, but theories abound throughout that season (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription). To the point where I’ve partially convinced myself that the frequent Agatha Harkness series name changes are themselves an indicator of Mephisto’s impending arrival.

So what does everyone else think? Are we certain that Sacha Baron Cohen is set to don horns and an evil mustache as Mephisto, or are we more likely to see Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark returning from the dead for a new Iron Man appearance? Either way, I’ll be watching. 

Ironheart currently doesn’t have a premiere date set in stone, as its initial 2023 window was pushed back to allow for Kevin Feige & Co. to reassess the Multiverse Saga phases. Hopefully it arrives sooner than the copyright notice’s 2025 date, though, or else we might forget who Mephisto even is.  

The Les Misérables cast is full of talent – and they've done a lot since the film was released more than ten years ago. 

I have been obsessed with movie musicals for as long as I can remember. I love to rewatch Mamma Mia!, check out the hit movie Chicago, and even dance around my room while rewatching Hairspray. No matter the movie musical, I love to rewatch it. Les Misérables was a movie musical that I loved for some time as a child. I recently decided to rewatch it, and my opinion of the film has changed significantly because my knowledge of the original musical has grown. But you want to know what has stayed the same? The love I have for the Les Misérables cast. 

I'm not sure what Tom Hooper did to get an ensemble cast of this talent, but the Les Misérables cast is one of the most star-studded ensemble movie musicals I have seen in a long time. From Hugh Jackman to Russell Crowe to Anne Hathaway, there are plenty of cast members here that we have seen in massive movies, major TV shows and incredible stage productions. 

If you're wondering where the Les Misérables cast is more than a decade after the film premiered, here is what they've been up to. 

Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean)

First up on this list is the star of Les Misérables, Hugh Jackman. He portrayed Jean Valjean, and while I don't personally agree with making him the lead character, his acting was great in the film. He ended up scoring an Academy Award nomination for it. Jackman has always participated in theatre and musicals, so his being in Les Misérables makes sense. 

Jackman continued to further his musical talents after his role in the movie. Not only did he host the 2014 Tony Awards, where he put on an impressive opening performance featuring several big Broadway stars, but he also starred in the smash hit musical The Greatest Showman (which truthfully needs a sequel). He was also the star of the Broadway revival of The Music Man in 2022. 

Aside from that, Jackman has appeared in many movies since his role in Les Misérables. He closed out his time as Wolverine in the X-Men movie franchise, but he will reprise the role one last time in the upcoming Deadpool 3, which paused filming due to the 2023 Writer's Strike. 

Jackman also appeared in films such as The Front Runner, Bad Education, Prisoners, The Son and was the star of the Reminiscence cast in 2021. He also had a recurring voice role on the hit Netflix show Human Resources and a recurring role on Hulu's Koala Man. He'll be in a new film called Apostle Paul and a new miniseries called Faraway Downs next.

Russell Crowe (Javert)

Russell Crowe portrayed Javert in Les Misérables, and I will openly admit that I did not care that much for his casting, as most people didn't. Crowe isn't necessarily known for his singing ability. However, the actor is incredibly talented, and he's been in plenty of movies since then. 

His most prominent movies include The Nice Guys, The Mummy, Unhinged, Noah (where he starred as the titular character), Poker Face, and The Greatest Beer Run Ever. He also portrayed Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder, and he was a part of the 2023 horror film The Pope's Exorcist. Crowe has also had a voice role on Ark: The Animated Series. 

Crowe has plenty coming up in the next few years regarding new projects. He will be a part of the Kraven the Hunter cast, and he is set to appear in movies such as The Georgetown Project, A Taste for Blood, Sleeping Dogs, Rothko, and more. 

Anne Hathaway (Fantine)

The Les Misérables cast is incredible, but no one surpassed Anne Hathaway, who played Fantine in the film. The actress won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role, and she has gone on to star in some pretty incredible projects since then. We've even ranked her best films.

My personal favorite performance of hers was when she had a co-starring role in Interstellar, one of Christopher Nolan's best films I watched in 2023. Aside from that, Hathaway has appeared in movies like The Intern, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Ocean's 8, Locked Down, The Witches, She Came to Me, Eileen, and more. 

The actress also held a role on the Amazon Prime TV show Modern Love for two episodes. Hathaway will star in Mother's Instinct and several other movies like The Idea Of You, Mother Mary, The Lifeboat, and Bum's Rush in the coming years.

Amanda Seyfried (Cosette)

I've always loved Amanda Seyfried in any musical role, and her as Cosette was the perfect pick. Les Misérables showed the full capability of her musical talent. And ever since then, Amanda Seyfried has starred in some great films. 

She was in the sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and she also starred in other movies such as The Big Wedding, Epic, A Million Ways to Die in the West, Gringo, Ted 2, Pan, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Scoob!, Things Heard and Seen, and A Mouthful of Air. 

Seyfried has also expanded her talent into television. She had a leading performance in The Dropout cast on Hulu, one that earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination. She also had a lead role in Apple TV+'s The Crowded Room, and she was on four episodes of Twin Peaks. 

Seyfried will appear in a new movie called My Ex-Friend's Wedding next, so be sure to check that out. 

Eddie Redmayne (Marius Pontmercy)

Marius Pontmercy was the love interest of Cosette and one of the fighters of the rebellion in Les Misérables, and Eddie Redmayne portrayed him. This was the first time I had ever seen Redmayne, so his performance in this movie holds a special place in my heart. 

A year later, Redmayne won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Theory of Everything, where he played Stephen Hawking. Aside from that, Redmayne has also gained a lot of notoriety for his role as Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts franchise in the world of Harry Potter. 

Aside from this, Redmayne has appeared in several other movies, including The Danish Girl, The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Aeronauts, The Good Nurse, and Early Man. Up next, he will be starring in a new TV series called The Day of the Jackal. 

Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thénardier)

Helena Bonham Carter is arguably one of my favorite actresses, and her role as Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables is iconic in the best way possible. Ever since then, the actress has appeared in a variety of movies. 

My choice for her best film post-Les Mis is the live-action Cinderella, where she played the Fairy Godmother. She also appeared in the Enola Holmes movies on Netflix, One Love, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Ocean's 8, Suffragette, and The Lone Ranger. 

Carter also starred as Princess Margaret for two seasons on the hit Netflix series The Crown, and she had roles in Love, Nina, and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (the latter of which was canceled). She appeared in a British miniseries as well, titled Nolly. She will be in two new films, The Offing and Four Letters of Love, and she will also appear in a TV series about David Copperfield. 

Sacha Baron Cohen (Monsieur Thénardier)

I cannot think of a better actor to play Monsieur Thénardier in Les Misérables, especially opposite Helena Bonham Carter, than Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen has appeared in movies since Les Misérables, including Alice Through the Looking Glass and The Trial of the Chicago 7, and he held a voice role in the emotional Pixar film Luca. 

Cohen especially made waves when he released Borat Subsequent Moviefilm in 2020, a sequel to his hit movie Borat. The film received excellent reviews, and it earned a few Academy Award nominations. 

He also created, wrote, and starred in Who Is America? and was in six episodes of The Spy series. Cohen will be in a new miniseries called Disclaimer and two new movies called Mandrake the Magician and Super Toys.

Samantha Barks (Éponine)

Samantha Barks played Éponine in Les Misérables, a known stage veteran who portrayed the same character in the stage production years before the movie. Since then, the actress has appeared in films, including The Christmas Candle, Bitter Harvest, Interlude for Prague, and Tomorrow Morning. She also had a guest role on the TV show Bear Grylls: Mission Survive. 

Barks has mainly stuck to theatre since her role in the movie, appearing in various stage plays and musicals, including Chicago, Chess, Frozen, The Last Five Years, Amelie, City of Angels, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Pretty Woman: The Musical. 

Aaron Tveit (Enjolras)

Enjolras wasn't as big of a star as Marius, but he certainly made an impact in Les Misérables, and Aaron Tveit is the reason for that. The actor has appeared in a few films, including Big Sky, Better Of Single, Out of Blue, and Created Equal, but has mainly stuck to television. 

He was a part of Graceland and BrainDead, he also was part of the stacked Schimigadoon! main cast. He had several recurring and guest roles on shows such as The Good Fight, The Code, and American Horror Stories too. Tveit has also stuck to theatre, appearing in productions like Company, Assassins, and most recently, Moulin Rouge!, for which he won a Tony Award for. 

Daniel Huttlestone (Gavroche)

Lastly, we have Daniel Huttlestone, who played Gavroche in Les Misérables. While the character is essential, Huttlestone hasn't done much acting since then. He appeared in Into the Woods in a prominent part, and then he appeared in the films Friday Download, London Town, and The Lost City of Z, but has since stopped acting. 

There are so many talented stars on this list that I need to catch up on, and now I feel I need to do some movie marathons to celebrate all their incredible films. Does anyone else feel up to the challenge of watching Mamma Mia! over and over again with me? 

In the universe of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s creations, there is a trinity of beloved characters the world has helped make famous: Borat, Bruno and Ali G. Through his HBO series Da Ali G Show, all three of those characters thrived and survived into resurrections through cinematic spinoffs. Now, in the wake of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Cohen looks like he’s about to revive another one of the boys in the name of comedic mayhem.

If the whispers are true, then prepare for the return of Ali G, as seen at the top of this article! Now don’t go thinking this is a new TV or movie project. Sources close to comedy multi-hyphenate who spoke with Variety swear he’s acting in accordance with the 2023 WGA writer’s strike, as well as the SAG-AFTRA strike that’s currently underway. Instead, this report has Sacha Baron Cohen interested in taking Staines’ own rapper/journalist on the road as part of a potential stand-up comedy tour.

Should this alleged return of the star of the 2002 film Ali G: Indahouse be true, it’s definitely something to celebrate. It definitely fits with the history of one of Sacha Baron Cohen’s best characters, as the report cited above also mentioned that he had previously dug this character back out for a gig in 2021. The realm of possibility is there, and so is the occasion, as it was also noted that this year is Ali G’s 25th anniversary. So busting out this blast from the past seems to be perfectly timed. 

At the same time, it’s kind of surprising that this sort of news would be broadcast ahead of time. While an Ali G stand up tour isn’t nearly so dangerous that Borat 2 levels of secrecy would be needed to protect him, you’d think that Sacha Baron Cohen would want to keep a tight lid on this for as long as possible. Though perhaps he let this news leak intentionally in the hopes of testing the waters for how people would react.

It would certainly be a jump back to familiar waters, as the last time we heard Cohen’s voice was as part of the cast for Disney/Pixar’s Luca. With recent years seeing the talented interviewer/actor dipping his toe into projects off the beaten path, another reunion with his chaotic side just might be a welcomed prospect. Again, these reports are alleged and not confirmed, so there’s a chance that Sacha Baron Cohen might not be warming up his gang signs just yet.

For now, you can relive Borat’s great glorious return through using your Prime Video subscription to watch Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. And for all things television, head over to our 2023 TV schedule, to see if there are any surprise on the horizon. 

A vacation can be a wonderful experience, especially when it involves a tropical backdrop. Sandy beaches, impeccable palm trees and crystal clear water are welcome sights and, while it may sound crazy, they really do help one get into the vacay mood. Celebrity couple Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen are the latest A-listers to go on holiday and did so in the Caribbean. The views, as you would expect, were nothing short of spectacular, though Fisher was the one who truly dazzled, thanks to her strappy swimwear. 

The social-media savvy Isla Fisher was the half of the famous pair to share about their lovely-looking vacation. The 46-year-old star posted photos from the getaway to her Instagram, and they’re nothing short of gorgeous. Scenic landscapes and delicious-looking drinks are just a few of the elements you’ll find within the slideshow. And of course, you’ll also see Fisher in her lovely beach fit. Take a look:

The Tag star definitely seemed to be living her best life amid the beautiful surroundings. One would think that her family also had a fun time, as her Borat star husband Sacha Baron Cohen can be seen taking in the sights in one snapshot. I’m personally mesmerized by the beauty of the sky above them, whether it be light blue or sporting shades of orange during magic hour. I just can’t think of a better spot for a vacation. 

Again though, we have to shout out Isla Fisher for her fashionable taste in beachwear. The mother of three flawlessly sported the pink ensemble, and provided the perfect pose while lying on the beach. Years ago, Fisher was candid about shedding pregnancy pounds, and it would seem to me that she still puts in the work to maintain her figure. Of course, the Australian star has always been a knockout, but she just seems to be getting better with age.

Isla Fisher has her share of (streamable) productions, some of which were released over the past few years. A few of her more recent credits include Godmothered, in which she provided some “filthy” improv ideas as well as the comedy film Blithe Spirit. In 2021, she also lent her voice to the animated flick Back to the Outback. 2022 also saw the release of her dramedy series Wolf Like Me – which is streamable with a Peacock subscription -- and sees her star alongside Josh Gad. The show has also been renewed for a second season. 

It’s probably fair to say that the actress earned that vacation. She’s worked hard – even when she’s not actually part of a production. (She once stood alongside Sacha Baron Cohen when his movie was crashed by the cops.) It’s likely that the actress will probably get back to work sooner rather than later but, even so, I’m sure her beautiful vacay will remain in her thoughts for the foreseeable future.

Biopics are a tried and true genre in the film world, usually resulting in Awards Season attention. Case in point: 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which told the story of Queen icon Freddie Mercury. Rami Malek ultimately won an Academy Award for his performance, but he wasn’t the only actor who auditioned for the role. Now Queen’s Roger Taylor has slammed actor Sacha Baron Cohen years after he almost landed the role of Freddie in the movie.

Roger Taylor is the acclaimed drummer of Queen, who was played by actor Ben Hardy in Bohemian Rhapsody. The award winning biopic clearly meant a great deal to members of the band, and those who knew Freddie Mercury in his life. And it seems he wouldn’t have been happy if Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen landed the role over Rami Malek. As she recently shared,

Shots fired. It seems that Roger Taylor doesn’t appreciate the talents of Sacha Baron Cohen, who was seen in serious acting roles like The Trial of the Chicago Seven. In fact, he thinks the 50 year-old Oscar nominee is “utter shit” as a performer, and wouldn’t have gone well in Bohemian Rhapsody. Tell us how you really feel, Roger.

Roger Taylor’s comments to Metro UK are sure to turn a few heads, despite Bohemian Rhapsody arriving in theaters a few years ago. While Rami Malek put a ton of heart (and teeth) into his performance as Freddie Mercury, it was a coveted role that other actors would have killed for. That includes Sacha Baron Cohen, who was originally attached to the role when the movie was developing back in 2010. The Borat icon would eventually depart due to creative differences, making room for Malek to take on the mantle… and eventually an Academy Award.

While Queen’s Brian May reportedly approved of Sacha Baron Cohen’s casting at the time, it’s clear that the rest of the band didn’t quite agree. Roger Taylor doesn’t seem to think he’s a very strong factor, despite his years of experience. One can only imagine how different Bohemian Rhapsody might have been with a different leading actor.

Rami Malek’s performance in Bohemian Rhapsody was acclaimed, but there’s one way Sacha Baron Cohen might have had an advantage over the No Time to Die star. Namely because Cohen has a strong singing voice, as proven from performances in Sweeney Todd and Les Miserables. By comparison, Malek lip synched throughout his performance as Freddie Mercury. Regardless, that’s what Roger Taylor seems to prefer.

Bohemian Rhapsody is available to own now, with some fans hoping a sequel happens. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

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One of my favorite things about the Pixar movies does not have as much to do with actually watching the movies: looking up who voices each character later on or even beforehand. For instance, Jacob Tremblay - acclaimed young star of Room and horror movies like Doctor Sleep - and Jack Dylan Grazer - the acclaimed young star of DC movies like Shazam! and hit horror movies It and It: Chapter Two - play a pair of sea monsters who disguise themselves as humans to have an adventures on land by the Italian Riviera. Take a look at what other familiar voices you may recognize, and some you may be hearing for the first time, from the Luca cast, starting with the remarkably talented actor in the title role.

Jacob Tremblay (Luca Paguro)

At only 14 years old, Jacob Tremblay has become one of the hardest-working and critically praised performers of his generation since his breakout role in 2015’s heart-wrenching, Oscar-winning A24 drama Room in 2015 after first making his feature-film debut in The Smurfs 2 in 2013. Ironically, he did not play one of the titular animated blue creatures in said sequel, but Luca is not his first time playing an animated character either having lent his voice to TV series like Amazon Prime’s Pete the Cat (as the title role) and HBO Max’s Harley Quinn as Robin. Tremblay is also voicing Flounder in Disney’s upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid remake, but you may have seen his face from movies like Mike Flanagan’s Netflix exclusive thriller Before I Wake, the inspiring family drama Wonder, and the raunchy but heartfelt Good Boys from 2019.

Jack Dylan Grazer (Alberto Scorfano)

Playing Luca’s friend and fellow sea monster Alberto is another young veteran of recent horror movie hits Jack Dylan Grazer, who played the parentally inflicted hypochondriac Eddie Kaspbrak in 2017’s It cast after debuting in one of the most underrated horror anthology movies, Tales of Halloween, in 2015. The now 16-year-old also played the teenage version of a character also played by Saturday Night Live’s Bobby Moynihan and John Laroquette on the short-lived sitcom Me, Myself and I and a younger Timothée Chalamet in Beautiful Boy. Outside of the animated, Italy-set, coming-of-age movie Luca, Grazer stars in an Italy-set, coming-of-age series on HBO Max called We Are Who We Are, will next voice another supporting character in the animated Ron’s Gone Wrong in 2021, and is reprising his role as Freddy Freeman in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which is currently filming.

Emma Berman (Giulia Marcovaldo)

In addition to Luca’s fellow sea monster companion Alberto Scorfano, the curious hero of the newest Pixar movie also, for the first time in his life, befriends a human named Giulia. The adventurous young girl is voiced by Emma Berman, who is actually making her cinematic debut with Luca. So far, the 12-year-old up-and-comer’s only other acting credit is another voice acting role from an April 2021 episodes of the Netflix original animated children’s series Go! Go! Cory Carson as Winifred Wings - an airplane who is afraid of flying.

Maya Rudolph (Daniela Paguro)

Playing Luca’s mother also marks one of multiple voice roles in 2021 alone for former Saturday Night Live cast member Maya Rudolph after playing Linda in The Mitchells vs. the Machines, reprising Aunt Cass on Big Hero 6: The Series, and the upcoming Big Mouth Season 5 on Netflix. Her previous animated roles include Shrek the Third as Rapunzel, Turbo alongside Ryan Reynolds, both The Nut Job movies, and two films inspired by mobile phone activity: 2016’s The Angry Birds Movie and The Emoji Movie from the following year. She has also appeared in person in films like the Adam Sander/Drew Barrymore rom-com 50 First Dates, Mike Judge’s frighteningly relevant futuristic satire Idiocracy, the SNL sketch spin-off MacGruber, and 2011’s Bridesmaids, which also has a famous SNL connection as her co-star Kristen Wiig was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing the screenplay.

Jim Gaffigan (Lorenzo Paguro)

The most notable writing credits of Jim Gaffigan are many acclaimed stand-up specials, his short-lived TV Land sitcom The Jim Gaffigan Show, and Pale Force - a series of animated shorts starring him as the voice of superhero Pale Man and his young sidekick, Conan O’Brien, which were presented on Late Night during the talk show host’s NBC years. As an actor, the comedian (who voices Luca’s father) is known for an a-meow-sing Super Troopers cameo, director Sam Mendes’ Away We Go (also starring Maya Rudolph), and some dramatic roles as of late, such as in Chappaquiddick, and a gig with CBS Sunday Morning. Other animated roles include Henry Haber on a few Bob’s Burgers episodes, himself on Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, and his voice will also be heard in 2021 when he reprises Van Helsing in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, which is now in post-production.

Sandy Martin (Grandma Paguro)

Playing the grandmother of the titular character in Luca is Sandy Martin, whose best known role as the grandmother of the titular character in 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite - which is only one other instance of her history playing a family matriarch on screen. The 72-year-old actress also played Joy’s grandma on the My Name is Earl cast, Mac’s mother on the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast, and also Sam Rockwell’s mother in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2017. Audience may also recognize Matin from brief appearances in films as old as 1982’s 48 Hrs. or as recent as 2010’s Marley & Me and on TV shows as funny as 2 Broke Girls or as serious as Ray Donovan, on which she has a memorable recurring role as Jon Voight’s onscreen sister-in-law, coincidentally named Sandy Patrick.

Sacha Baron Cohen (Uncle Ugo)

Another undersea relative of Luca’s is his uncle, Ugo, voiced by multi-talented actor and controversial prankster artist Sacha Baron Cohen, who was recently nominated for two Academy Awards - one for his supporting role in Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 and the other for co-writing the screenplay for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which premiered exclusively on Amazon Prime in 2020. The 49-year-old Brit’s first and other most famous acting gig was as the royal lemur Julien in the Madagascar movies as he is better known for live action characters in comedies like Jean Girard in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby or more serious films like Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street from 2007. The Who is America? host has recently been cast in the title role of the long-awaited Mandrake the Magician, based on the iconic comic strip.

Marco Barricelli (Massimo Marcovaldo)

As Giulia Marcovaldo’s father, Massimo - an intimidating, yet kindhearted, fisherman and cook - we have Marco Barricelli, who is best known for his long history as an actor, writer, director, and educator in the world of theatre. However, for those who those who do not seek entertainment from the stage, the veteran performer has eight screen credits to his name - the most recent being Luca. He debuted on a 1987 episode of the popular daytime soap opera Guiding Light, appeared on the NBC legal drama L.A. Law in 1991, and had a four-episode stint on the dramedy The Book of Daniel (which only lasted twice as long in 2006), to name a few gig. Barricelli has even lent his voice to a few video games, including 1996’s Clandestiny and Manhunt 2 in 2007.

Francesca Fanti (Maggiore)

As a movie set in Italy and directed by an Italian born filmmaker (Enrico Casarosa), it would only make sense that Luca cast also empty Italian-born actors as well. Among them is Francesca Fanti, who is best know to American audiences from the 2009 musical Nine (which also starred Daniel Day-Lewis), the Emmy-winning FX miniseries The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story as the murdered fashion icon’s mother (coincidentally named) Francesca “Franca” Versace, and a couple of uncredited voice roles in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted alongside the aforementioned Sacha Baron Cohen.

Saverio Raimondo (Ercole Visconte)

One of Italy’s most popular comedians is Saverio Raimondo, who stars in Luca as a young bully named Ercole Visconte, whom Luca comes at odds with in the Pixar film. The animated movie is Raimondo’s first (partially) English-language project, having previously appeared in a modest number of projects originating from his home country - including the 2016 pilot for the comedy Dov’è Mario, in which a renowned Italian intellectual (Corrado Guzzanti) suffers a car accident and gains a split personality that makes him a crude stand-up comic by night. Speaking of stand-up, for a taste of what Raimondo’s comedic stylings, try his 2019 Netflix original comedy special Saverio Raimondo: Il Satiro Parlante.

Pixar has shed light on various cultures, such as Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos in Coco in 2018. It will do the same for Italy, as seen through the eyes of a young, adventurous sea monster in Luca, streaming on Disney+ Friday, June 18, 2021.

Thor: Love and Thunder's filming in Australia has proved to be a Hollywood affair since production began early this year. We’ve heard word that Matt Damon, Jeff Goldblum and Melissa McCarthy may be a part of the Marvel movie, as well as Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster, Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie and Christian Bale’s Gorr the Butcher leading the film. But wait, there might be more major names joining the God of Thunder.

The recent bit of major news about the movie is confirmation from Russell Crowe that he is on board to play Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder. This came weeks after rumors spread that the actor was involved once he was spotted socializing with the cast. As the Marvel movie reaches its last few weeks of production, look who else is spending time with the Thor cast:

Borat’s Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, his wife and fellow actor, recently had dinner in Australia with Christian Bale, Russell Crowe and Rita Ora, who has allegedly been linked romantically with writer/director Taika Waititi. Could one or both of them be suiting up for a role in Thor: Love and Thunder? It’s definitely not impossible considering all the starpower in the movie already, but rubbing elbows at a dinner table doesn’t always mean business.

Isla Fisher is from Australia and is a resident of Down Under alongside her British husband. Sacha Baron Cohen does already know Russell Crowe from being co-stars in 2012’s Les Miserables, and besides being costars on Thor: Love and Thunder, Crowe and Christian Bale starred together in 3:10 to Yuma back in 2007. It could be some old friends catching up while they are in Sydney, but sharing a film schedule definitely makes breaking for lunch easier.

We already suspect Taika Waititi recruited Matt Damon to play actor Loki again for a sequence in the movie alongside Melissa McCarthy as actor Hela, Sam Neill as actor Odin and Luke Hemsworth as actor Thor following some set images being snapped. Funny enough, McCarthy begged for a role in the film back in January before being caught in costume.

Perhaps Thor: Love and Thunder is going by a ‘more the merrier’ mindset as the underwraps storyline continues to be filmed. There’s a lot to be set up in the fourth Thor film, with Chris Hemsworth’s character facing a new adversary in Gorr the God Butcher, reuniting with old flame Jane Foster (who is set to become The Mighty Thor )and somehow crossing paths with Zeus. There could be room for Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher to find roles, even in a cameo capacity if the wine and dine wasn’t random.

Thor: Love and Thunder is set to reach theaters on May 6, 2022. While we wait for it, check out the entire confirmed Marvel movies lineup here on CinemaBlend.

2020 gave film fans a number of great films, but one that truly left an indelible impression is Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (or Borat 2). The highly anticipated sequel more than lived up to the legacy of its predecessor, and some may argue that it actually surpassed it. When the film came out, many were likely pegging it for awards buzz, though it was too early to call at that. But since the start of awards season, the film has received acclaim and a few notable honors. Now, Borat 2 is getting some Oscars love, as the film has picked up a couple of massive nomination that have me incredibly excited!

During the reveal of the 2021 Academy Awards nominations this morning, it was announced that newcomer Maria Bakalova had been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. The movie standout played the role of Borat’s erratic but sweet daughter, Tutar.

Not only that, but the film has also received a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. That credit goes to Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jenna Friedman, Lee Kern and Nina Pedrad. Needless to say, this film was a true collaboration of various writing and storytelling talents.

Both are awards are incredible but, for me, the one that’s most gratifying is the Best Supporting Actress nod for Maria Bakalova. Coming into a high-profile production can be daunting for any star but for the up-and-comer to come into a movie like Borat and knock it out of the park is truly impressive. The actress really threw herself into the role, and this included some pretty "gross" prep. What makes Bakalova’s performance most impressive is that it’s not only comedic but incredibly sincere and grounded at times. Tutar’s over-the-top antics were almost always anchored by her love for her father.

It’s easy to see why the on-screen relationship worked so well when you consider just how close Maria Bakalova is with co-star Sacha Baron Cohen. The two forged a strong partnership and made for a hilarious on-screen duo. But Baron Cohen also became protective of his movie daughter, especially when it came to prepping for the film’s controversial Rudy Giuliani scene.

It would have also been cool to see Sacha Baron Cohen snag a Best Actor nod for his performance as the titular character, given how he seamlessly dove back into the role of the Kazakh journalist -- and put himself in some pretty serious situations. Though with such a tight race in that category, one can understand his exclusion. Still, Cohen did manage to land a Best Supporting actor nod for his role as Abbie Hoffman in The Trial of the Chicago 7.

Borat 2’s nominations are a true joy to see. While the film was definitely a satirical comedy, its biting social commentary likely hit home for quite a few viewers. As with the first film, the movie shed light on various aspects of the United States, which may have been a bit eye-opening for some.

It’ll be interesting to see how the film fares come awards night. But regardless of how it does, the two awards nominations are serious accomplishments, not only for the movie itself but for the comedy genre as a whole. 

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.

2020 was filled with a number of notable films, but one that really took the world by storm was Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (or Borat 2). The long-awaited sequel captured audiences with its massive laughs and biting social commentary. Of course, the success of the film can not only be attributed to director Jason Woliner but to the performances of Sacha Baron Cohen and newcomer Maria Bakalova. So it came as no surprise that the two scored Golden Globes nominations for their work and, following the announcement, Cohen took to social media to provide a Borat-inspired response.

Sacha Baron Cohen actually landed a pair of nominations at this year’s Golden Globes. For Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, he was nominated for Best Actor - Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy, he also earned a nod for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture for The Trial of the Chicago 7. Of course, the actor couldn’t help but respond to both his and Mari Bakalova's nods, and his response featured a key reference to the Borat sequel. Check out his Twitter post down below:

Would we really expect Sacha Baron Cohen to react to his nominations in any other way? When expressing gratitude for his Golden Globe nominations, the actor couldn’t help but reference former New York mayor and former President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. By now, most people know the lawyer appeared in the film and was featured in one of its most controversial moments.

In addition to Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova also reacted to her Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress - Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy. She expressed her joy in being nominated, calling the situation “unbelievable.” Though anyone who’s seen Bakalova’s performance probably doesn’t find it to be unbelievable at all. The actress knocked it out of the park and went to great lengths to prepare for her role, even if it meant getting a bit gross in the process.

Likewise, Sacha Baron Cohen also brought his A-game when reprising one of his most famous roles. He helped craft a hilarious script and managed to add new layers to his Kazakh journalist character. He also put himself in harm’s way a number of times, which caused the actor to fear for his life.

But what was probably the best part of the film was seeing the chemistry between Cohen and Bakalova. The two really clicked whenever they were on screen together, and that bond also appears to have extended off camera. During the shoot, Sacha Baron Cohen looked out for his younger co-star, giving her advice for scenes and making sure she was safe during her character’s scene with Giuliani.

It’s great to see Borat 2 is getting the awards love it deserves so far. Hopefully, these won’t be the last nods Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova get before awards season is over.

The 78th Golden Globe Awards air on NBC on February 28 and, in the meantime, you can check out Borat Subsequent Moviefilm on Amazon Prime.

The highly anticipated sequel to Borat, formally titled Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, has taken the world by storm. From being filmed in secret to the poster causing outrage to ditching the theatrical release and heading straight to streaming, it’s been quite the whirlwind. Things have also kicked into high gear for actress Maria Bakalova, who plays Tutar Sagdiyev in the film and has been mentioned in many award season conversations.

Borat 2’s massive success since its release on Amazon Prime Video has been a quick propeller to stardom for Maria Bakalova. Her performance is so good that it made her mother cry. According to producer Monica Levinson, Sacha Baron Cohen knew of Bakalova’s talent right away, and Levinson is excited to see Bakalova get the recognition. Here’s what the producer said to CinemaBlend:

She really is amazing. Either title of Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress would be well-deserved by Maria Bakalova. She was clearly dedicated to the role in the way she went about preparing to portray Tutar and as we’ve seen, that hard work paid off. Bakalova mentioned being nervous about a monologue due to not being fluent in English, but despite that she absolutely nailed it.

Beyond giving a bold and all around wonderful performance, Maria Bakalova also seems to be very down to earth and just a sweet human. She reached out to co-star Jeanise Jones (the 62-year-old woman who becomes the “babysitter” for Tutar) following the film’s release, stating she’ll probably always think of Jones as a godmother, hero and life coach. Of course, Borat 2 is known for the shocking moments, especially that most talked about scene and not having super sweet and “good” characters, but that only adds to the talent of seeing actors portray people who are so different from themselves.

If you haven’t seen Borat 2 yet (or just want to watch it again), check it out on Amazon Prime Video. These characters will steal your heart, and you might have some of the same questions as we do.

Do you think this was an award-winning performance by Maria Bakalova? Let me know down in the comments section along with what award you’d like to see her win.

Just like in the first Borat movie, last year’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm saw Sacha Baron Cohen reprising his Kazakh journalist character for all sorts of shenanigans. Unlike the movie released in 2006, Cohen had a partner-in-tomfoolery for the sequel, with Maria Bakalova playing Borat’s daughter, Tutar. One of the main people Bakalova interacted with as Tutar was Jeanise Jones, the woman hired to be her babysitter, and according to Cohen, her presence was necessary for the Borat 2 narrative to move along properly.

Jeanise Jones was just one of the many unsuspecting individuals who didn’t know that Borat and Tutar were characters, but in an interview with SAG-AFTA Foundation, Sacha Baron Cohen explained that Jones filled an integral role in Tutar’s character development. As Cohen put it:

For those who haven’t watched Borat Subsequent Moviefilm on Amazon Prime Video, or simply need a refresher, the sequel saw Jeanise Jones looking after Tutar while Borat is working at a barbershop. Under the impression that Tutar was a soon-to-be underage bride, Jones informed the girl that what she’d learned about women from her culture was wrong, i.e. she didn’t need plastic surgery get married and she was welcome to use her brain. As a result, Tutar eventually rebelled against Borat, resulting in the father/daughter duo’s temporary separation.

Obviously for Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova, Jeanise Jones’ words of wisdom were helpful in pushing the Borat Subsequent Moviefilm story forward. Jones, on the other hand, was legitimately concerned for Tutar’s well being after their time together concluded, so much so that she asked the other congregants at her church to pray for Tutar. It was only after Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was released on Prime Video that Jones realized that Tutar was an actress, and she felt “betrayed” by the whole affair.

Fortunately for Jeanise Jones, her life has improved following Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’s release. Because Jones wasn’t paid much for the movie and has faced employment difficulties due to the pandemic, a GoFundMe page was set up for her by her church’s pastor. Plenty of people have donated to the effort, and as of this writing, over $184,000 has been raised for Jones. Sacha Baron Cohen also donated over $100,000 to her Oklahoma City community.

Last Thanksgiving, Maria Bakalova reached out to Jeanise Jones, finally speaking with the woman as herself rather than Tutar. Bakalova described Jones as a “true angel” and will always think of her as her “godmother, a real hero and life coach.” In a movie filled with plenty of people who weren’t “good,” Jones shined as a moral beacon, which is exactly the kind of person that was necessary for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm to unfold the way Sacha Baron Cohen wanted.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available to watch on Prime Video, and be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of the movie. Keep track of the movies set to hit theaters later this year with our 2021 release schedule.

Most fans knew before they even watched Borat 2 that they’d be in for a wild ride. After the long-awaited sequel dropped on Amazon this October, the internet was abuzz regarding its most memorable scenes -- if nothing else, that’s proof of its success. For Borat 2’s director, though, the film’s accomplishments weren’t a sure bet -- in fact, he initially tried to convince Sacha Baron Cohen not to make it.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, or Borat 2, had the second biggest digital premiere of the year. That's an impressive enough feat as is but even more so when you consider how many films had to shift to digital release this year due to COVID-19. But Jason Woliner, who directed the film, was initially hesitant to jump on board. He told Insider that he had some serious concerns about the prospects for the sequel:

Jason Woliner’s concerns are understandable -- there have been plenty of terrible comedy sequels. He later explained that Sacha Baron Cohen's own perspective on the film was what ultimately helped him decide to get on board:

While Jason Woliner’s concerns were valid, they turned out to be unfounded where Borat 2 is concerned. In addition to being a huge success with fans, critics - including CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell - praised the film for its brash, if controversial, approach to comedy.

Do you think Borat 2 broke the sequel curse? Let us know in the comments!

After Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest outing as Borat in the long-awaited sequel to the comedy phenomenon, things have become blurred between the line and when he crossed it for the greatest of belly laughs and cringe-down-your-spine moments. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is not only one of the most popular 2020 movies, it’s also the most streamed behind Hamilton. Godmothered star Isla Fisher is Cohen’s wife, and she has an intriguing perspective on the whole thing.

Isla Fisher has been married to Sacha Baron Cohen since 2010, which means Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is the first Borat movie the actor has made as her husband. When speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Fisher shared what it's like to be the name who answers to the iconic “this is my wife” line:

Welp, that’s not concerning at all. If you’ve read some of the truly insane behind-the-scenes stories from Borat 2 you’ll learn quite quickly that much of what you see on screen really happened. Maria Bakalova actually crashed a meeting of Women Republicans and Sacha Baron Cohen really went to a CPAC event that VP Mike Pence spoke at. When it comes to those experiences and Isla Fisher, apparently she really doesn’t hear about them until after they've happen.

The Confessions of a Shopaholic actress talked about how she actually got really invested in the process of cutting together the movie during her appearance on the talk show. She said she was really invested in a hilarious joke during the debutante ball that was cut, despite her apparently threatening that she wouldn’t speak to him ever again if he cut it in the heat of the moment. Though as she laughed along, they are still happily married following the release and she’s in total agreement of the choices Sacha Baron Cohen made for the film.

Isla Fisher has been dealing with her offbeat husband for quite some time, once citing a funny story about what happened when she decided to bring lunch to him while he was making Brüno. When she arrived on set, it turned out to be “a truck in a parking lot,” where police showed up. All things considering, we’d imagine Isla Fisher is proud of her husband. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available on Amazon Prime and Godmothered is streaming on Disney+.

The most laugh-out-loud comedy of the year is arguably Borat Subsequent Moviefilm or put more simply Borat 2. The shocking follow-up to the 2006 movie about a fictional Kazakh television journalist took on relevant American issues. Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Borat 2 showcased the state of the nation by orchestrating real situations between average Joes and major public figures, such as Rudy Giuliani and Vice President Mike Pence, who was featured during an actual CPAC event. But let’s push politics aside and talk about that Tom Hanks cameo.

At the end of Borat 2, there’s a hilarious scene that has Borat taking a photo with Tom Hanks in Australia and coughing all over him to poke fun at the Forrest Gump actor becoming the first major celebrity to announce testing positive for COVID-19. The actor originally contracted it back in March while shooting the Elvis Presley movie in Australia. The scene was perfect, and Borat 2 director Jason Woliner recently told Insider how the cameo was landed:

Most would agree that Tom Hanks fit into that ending montage perfectly, and the fact that Woliner and Sacha Baron Cohen were able to land him is great. Although most of it was shot in real locations with people who were not in on the joke, Borat 2 does make it clear that the film is really actually joking about Borat being patient zero for the coronavirus. The sequence could not have been thought up when the movie first started filming back in fall 2019, though, and Woliner explained how and why COVID altered Borat 2:

From the very beginning, Borat 2 was set to be released before the 2020 presidential election as a way to paint a picture of how the U.S. has been under the current administration and “make a meaningful impact,” according to Jason Woliner. When COVID-19 became a reality, the production had to make a decision, and they felt like they had to lean into the pandemic somehow. As a result, Borat 2 has really become a stark picture of this year as a whole, Tom Hanks and all And again, that’s really him.

Borat 2 had the second biggest digital premiere of the year, with Disney+ film Hamilton not throwing away its shot at No. 1. The movie also has audiences raving over Maria Bakalov, the hilarious actress who played Borat’s daughter and elevated the movie’s bits right with Sacha Baron Cohen. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available to stream on Amazon Prime, along with these great movies CinemaBlend recommends for December.

Hollywood is filled with a number of unique and quirky actors, and one of the most fascinating among them has to be Sacha Baron Cohen. The skilled actor and comedian has made quite an impact on pop culture, due largely to his hilarious alter egos like Kazakhstani journalist Borat Sagdiyev and British hip hop aficionado Ali G. And while embodying these characters, Baron Cohen is known to put himself into some pretty extreme situations. This was definitely clear when the actor’s wife, Isla Fisher, once visited him on set, during which things were shaken up by the police.

Isla Fisher recently recalled that she visited hubby Sacha Baron Cohen while he was working on Brüno. The actress remembered arriving to “set,” which was actually a truck in a parking lot. But things got really interesting when the shoot was interrupted by some surprise guests:

Well, that’s definitely one way to spend the day with your partner on a set. Isla Fisher is completely aware of the wild things her husband does in his films. However, based on her comments during her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, it doesn’t sound like she was quite prepared for a situation quite like that.

Sacha Baron Cohen is a humorous presence, but he does take his art seriously. The performer has put himself into some very dicey situations while making movies. His latest feature, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (or Borat 2), was no different. At one point in the movie, Baron Cohen, while in character, attended a right-wing rally, during which he sang about Dr. Anthony Fauci and COVID-19. While he and his crew were able to pull off the scene, the actor later shared on social media that it wasn’t without its hazards.

Of course, one of the most daring things that occurred in the film was the controversial scene that involved actress Maria Bakalova and President Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani. Though Cohen wasn’t the one who was actually present in the scene, he was still concerned for Bakalova. However, he still made sure that he was close by while the scene was being shot.

It’s one thing to suffer for your art, but it’s an entirely different thing when those around you are also affected. Thankfully though, both Isla Fisher and Maria Bakalova came out of the situations relatively unscathed. And let’s be honest, Sacha Baron Cohen is a pro at this kind of filmmaking and likely takes precautions to keep collaborators and loved ones safe.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

October was a big month for Sacha Baron Cohen on two fronts. Over on Amazon Prime Video, he could be seen engaging in mustachioed shenanigans in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, with the eponymous character accompanied by his daughter Tutar, played by Maria Bakalova. And over on Netflix, Cohen starred as Abbie Hoffman in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7. That project was literally over a decade in the making, as there was a time where actors like Heath Ledger and Phillip Seymour Hoffman would have appeared alongside Cohen.

Needless to say that iteration of The Trial of the Chicago 7 was not able to move forward, but Sacha Baron Cohen stuck with the project for years until Aaron Sorkin, who’d already written the script, finally breathed life into it as the director. As Cohen explained to EW:

So it didn’t take long for the Steve Spielberg-helmed version of The Trial of the Chicago 7 to suffer a devastating blow, as Heath Ledger passed away in early 2008, leaving The Dark Knight and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus as his final movies. The Writer’s Guild of America strike, which lasted from November 2007 to January 2008, resulted in the project being suspended, and from then until Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s death in early 2014, there were a variety of other complications, behind-the-scenes changes, etc. But through it all, Sacha Baron Cohen was determined to see that The Trial of the Chicago 7 eventually get made, as he felt this was a real-life story that deserved to be told in a film setting.

By October 2018, it was announced that Aaron Sorkin would sit in the director’s chair for The Trial of the Chicago 7, having made his directorial debut on 2017’s Molly’s Game. The Trial of the Chicago 7 was originally supposed to be a traditional theatrical release, with Paramount Pictures handling distribution. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic closing down movie theaters, Paramount sold The Trial of the Chicago 7 to Netflix, and following a limited theatrical release, it was dropped on the streaming service on October 16.

The Trial of the Chicago 7 told the story of the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-Vietnam War protestors who came to Chicago in 1968 to protest at outside the Democratic National Convention, but were arrested and charged with crossing state lines to incite riots, with their trial being held the following year. Along with Sacha Baron Cohen, the ensemble cast includes Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Jospeh Gordon-Levitt, Frank Langella and Michael Keaton, among others. The Trial of the Chicago 7 has been earned primarily positive critical reception, ranking at 90% among professional critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of The Trial of the Chicago 7, and if you’re curious about what Netflix is delivering this month, look through our detailed lineup. You can also learn what movies are supposed to hit theaters next year with our 2021 release schedule.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (or Borat 2) was the perfect return for Sacha Baron Cohen’s famous Kazakhstani journalist, but the true breakout of the movie was the character’s daughter, Tutar. Played perfectly by newcomer Maria Bakalova, the character begins as a naïve and poorly treated child to a confident and courageous young woman. Of course, during her journey she has more than a few raunchy and hilarious moments, which did create some challenges for Bakalova. One of these came before one of the film’s funniest scenes, which had the young actress “freaking out," and believe it or not, it wasn't the controversial Rudy Giuliani scene.

In the film, Tutar has been convinced by the teachings of her home county that she should fear her own body but, when she wanders into a hotel bathroom, she discovers the self-pleasure. This revelation excites her so much that she goes as far as to crash a meeting of Women Republicans and give a speech about her experience.

Although the scene turned out perfectly, Bakalova admitted that she was a bit anxious about it. This was due to the fact that it was a lengthy monologue and she didn’t know much English at the time.:

One can only imagine what it would have been like to be in Maria Bakalova’s shoes in that moment. Not only did she still have to learn the words, but the monologue itself had to be performed in front of a group of real people. Nevertheless, Bakalova also told IndieWire that co-star Sacha Baron Cohen was able to ease her concerns:

From what we’ve heard, Baron Cohen really took Bakalova under his wing while they made Borat 2. The actress revealed that he gave her key performance advice, like how to keep herself from breaking during scenes. He also showed great concern for her while she was filming her scene with Rudy Giuliani, though Baron Cohen made sure he wasn’t too far away from her while it was being produced.

To say that Bakalova gave a bold performance would be an understatement. She fully committed to the role on screen but even showed dedication while prepping for the role. She previously confirmed that she actually let her body hair grow out, which she described as a pretty “gross” situation. If that’s not commitment, then I don’t know what is. Hopefully, Maria Bakalova will receive some awards recognition for her role in the movie.

Borat 2 is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

14 years may be passed between the release of the first Borat movie and its sequel, but Sacha Baron Cohen proved in the latter this year that he’s still incredibly skilled at deception and general tomfoolery while playing his Kazakh journalist character. Borat 2, a.k.a. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, has been met with primarily positive reception since it dropped on Amazon Prime Video late last month, though that’s not to say everyone is pleased with the movie. For example, there’s now a call from the Kazakh community for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm to be disqualified from awards consideration, including the Oscars.

Having previously petitioned for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’s Prime Video release to be cancelled, the Kazakh American Association (a Virginia-based non-profit group dedicated to “preserving and promoting” Kazakh heritage and culture in the United States) has now released a letter asking that the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Directors Guild of America Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards not allow this movie to be eligible for any awards. This letter, which was co-signed by the Hollywood Film Academy and Council on American-Islamic Relations, declared that Borat 2 promotes “whitewashing, ethnic stereotyping, racism, cultural appropriation, and xenophobia.” The letter continued (via Variety):

The Kazakh American Association also mentioned in its letter that Sacha Baron Cohen could have created a fake nation for Borat Sagdiyev to come from. This was the approach taken with Cohen’s 2012 movie The Dictator, as that eponymous character, Admiral General Aladeen, as from the Republic of Wadiya. But because Borat is Kazakh, the KAA believes that Borat Subsequent Moviefilm portals the Kahzakh people as “misogynistic, incestuous, anti-Semitic, and barbarous” for Western audiences.

While Amazon has not issued an official response to this letter, following the KAA’s earlier attempt to have Borat Subsequent Moviefilm removed from Prime Video, Sacha Baron Cohen said in a statement last month that the reason he chose Kazakhstan for his character to come from was because “almost nobody in the U.S. knew anything about.” This allowed him to create “a wild, comedic, fake world,” and Cohen described the real-life Kazakhstan as “a beautiful country with a modern, proud society — the opposite of Borat’s version.” It’s worth mentioning that Kazakhstan’s government, which banned Borat back in the day, has been more receptive to the sequel, going to far as to use the character’s “Very Nice” catchphrase as part of a tourism campaign.

Considering that the first Borat movie scored both an Academy Award (for Best Adapted Screenplay) and a Golden Globe nomination (for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy), it’s entirely possible Borat Subsequent Moviefilm could earn similar accolades, hence why the Kazakh American Association has sent this letter out now. In particular, Maria Bakalova’s performance as Borat’s daughter, Tutar, has received a lot of praise, with some arguing that she should be nominated for an Oscar.

Should that happen, or if Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is nominated for any prestigious awards, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know. For now, keep track of movies that are still intended for theatrical release next year with our 2021 release schedule.

Borat 2 is already notable for a lot of things, including crashing an alt-right rally and also seemingly putting Rudy Giuliani in a compromising position (which, it should be noted, he has denied was compromising, saying he was removing a microphone). Now, however, it’s causing some drama in France, where people are not happy with a Borat Subsequent Moviefilm poster that has been plastered on buses… but the controversy may not be exactly for the reason you’d guess.

If you’ve seen the poster, it features Sacha Baron Cohen posing seductively while wearing little clothing. In fact, he has on nothing but some jewelry and a mask over his private parts. It leaves little to the imagination and it’s been plastered all over buses in Paris. Yet, it’s the ring he is wearing, a ring that reads “Allah” in Arabic, that is the major component that has been riling up Muslim bus drivers. Take a look.

It may also be the combination of the disrespect of the near-nudity and the addition of the ring that is upsetting people, too. According to a post over at Le Figaro, vandalism on buses in France has actually gone up since the Amazon poster has been added to the lineup of ads currently on transportation vehicles, though the outlet notes that there is nothing specific to link the buses that were targeted to the ad.

Still, bus drivers in France have protested the inclusion of the Borat 2 poster on Twitter and it very well could go down in history as one of the many banned movie posters over the years. You can see how the poster looks on the buses in the post below.

Posters for both TV and movie projects have caused issues for a variety of reasons over the years. A poster for IT Chapter Two caused major problems after scaring children. And another poster for Fifty Shades of Grey eventually was banned after people found it to be too kinky.

In the case of Borat 2, Sacha Baron Cohen is actually Jewish though his character is from a Muslim-heavy country, Kazakhstan. Per The Jerusalem Post, the issues with the Subsequent Moviefilm poster are coming as tensions have been high between Muslim and Jewish individuals in France for some time. There has been violence even in recent weeks and a bus was torched, though whether or not that was related to the poster is unclear. According to reports, for now, many of the ads won’t be taken down, but for some operators the Borat 2 poster could be taken off of buses and at train stops early. One regional bus owner noted:

This isn’t the only controversy Borat Subsequent Moviefilm has stirred up. Often with Sacha Baron Cohen movies, people aren’t happy with their portrayals. However, one notable story related to Borat 2 mentioned a Holocaust survivor was unhappy with their portrayal in the film, having not known they were being spoofed by someone who was, in fact, Jewish. A lawsuit was filed, though it was later dropped.

Given everything that's happened in 2020, it's ultimately going to be hard to determine the "biggest" movie of the year, but most certainly a contender for the title is Jason Woliner's Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. It surprised the hell out of audiences when it was officially announced at the beginning of September, and became a massive topic of conversation when it launched on Amazon Prime in late October.

With the way things operate in the digital world, we can't say for certain exactly how many people have actually watched Borat 2 since it premiered, but what is now being reported is that the movie saw the second most successful debut of any PVOD release so far in 2020.

That statistic is coming from ScreenEngine/ASI (via Variety), which regularly polls audiences aged 13-64 about what they are watching within seven days of a new title's release. According to their findings, Borat 2 outpaced other big films including Sam Hargrave's Extraction, Gina Prince-Bythewood's The Old Guard and Niki Caro's Mulan, but the one release it couldn't surpass in the rankings was the Broadway recording of Hamilton that launched on Disney+ just in time for the Independence Day holiday this past summer.

The polling doesn't feature any actual watching statistics, only rankings, but Amazon Prime has made official announcements regarding viewership of Borat 2 following its buzzed-about opening. Toward the end of October the streaming service put out a press release saying that "tens of millions" of subscribers clicked play on the film during its first weekend online, which lined up with reports at the time that its audience was surpassing Mulan's (though it also must be noted that viewers had to pay a premium price for the live-action adaptation of the Walt Disney Animation feature on top of the normal subscription fee.

Another direct comparison that's challenging (if not impossible) to make is between the success of Borat 2 and the original Borat 14 years ago. The original Sacha Baron Cohen comedy wound up being an international phenomenon when it hit theaters in 2006, ultimately making north of $260 million worldwide, but the sequel is operating in a totally different market where success is judged very differently.

What's certainly not in doubt is the public impact made by the movie. Audiences expected outrageousness from the comedy, but nobody expected the whole ordeal involving Rudy Giuliani. That sequence sparked conversation even before the film has made available to the public, and people who watched it won't soon forget what they saw.

For those who haven't seen it yet, or wish to watch it again, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is now streaming on Amazon Prime, and to see what's ahead for the rest of the year, check out or 2020 Release Calendar.

Now that more people have been able to watch the Borat sequel, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, the conversation shifts over to “How the hell did Sacha Baron Cohen pull off some of these pranks?” The Rudy Giuliani scene has been scrutinized and analyzed, with both Cohen and Giuliani weighing in on whether the scene worked or didn’t. There also was a fair amount of goodwill generated for Jeanise Jones, the kind-hearted babysitter who claims she was duped by the production. Now she’s making money.

Today’s reveal, though, comes from the scene where Sacha Baron Cohen’s character, Borat, is infiltrating CPAC – or the Conservative Political Action Conference – so that he can deliver his “daughter” to Mike Pence. Appearing on the Ellen Degeneres Show, Cohen tells the story of going through security in a Donald Trump costume, elaborating on how a security guard with a metal detector almost shut him down:

Sacha Baron Cohen was quick on his feet, and told the guard that the beeping that was going off was a pacemaker. As the guard continued to work his way over and around the fat suit, another beep triggered a warning, and the comedian got scared. But it was the guard who actually suggested that the second beep could be because of the wires associated with the pacemaker, and so they let Cohen in.

They gave Sacha Baron Cohen an excuse to get passed the metal detector. And they let the comedian, wearing a fat suit, enter CPAC. Say that out loud. How does anything like this actually happen?

Sacha Baron Cohen was not able to successfully hand his “daughter” (Maria Bakalova) over to Mike Pence. The movie, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, shows security escorting Cohen out of the convention center after his shouting disrupts Pence’s speech. But Cohen also talks about how he spent five hours in the men’s room stall waiting to pull off this prank. Worth it?

Listen to him tell the story on The Ellen Degeneres Show:

Sacha Baron Cohen can live off of telling stories about the production of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. It’s absurd, dangerous, but very, very funny. The movie is available for streaming on Amazon Prime as we speak.

For anyone who’s familiar with Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat Sagdiyev, you know he’s usually good for two things: making people laugh and creating controversy. That’s definitely been the case with his latest endeavor, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, especially where a scene that features Rudy Giuiliani is concerned. Sacha Baron Cohen hasn’t shied away from sharing what he thinks about the most-talked about moment in the film. But his thoughts on what fans should take away from that scene are a little surprising.

For those who haven’t checked out Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, the controversial moment featuring Rudy Giuliani goes a little bit like this: the former New York City mayor sits down for an interview about Donald Trump with a young woman he assumes to be a reporter. In the film, she’s actually Borat’s 15-year-old daughter, Tutar, (in reality, she’s actually 24-year-old actress Maria Bakalova). After some awkwardness, which includes everything from the pair sharing a drink and flirting to an intrusion from Borat disguised as a boom operator, the two retire to a hotel bedroom where Rudy Giuiliani can be seen laying down on the bed and putting his hands in his pants. Borat then storms in and informs the politician that his daughter is underage.

Rudy Giuliani has insisted that his behavior during the filming was completely appropriate. Sacha Baron Cohen has, for his part, made his own opinion on the matter clear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert:

However, the actor and screenwriter also understands that everything is up for interpretation:

If nothing else, the moment between Rudy Giuiliani and Tutar has helped raise interest in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. While there are other controversial moments in the film, including one that led to a lawsuit before the film was even released, the buzz generated by a scene featuring such a high profile politician is certainly noteworthy.

The commotion surrounding that sequence in particular may have caused Rudy Giuiliani a headache but, ultimately, it’s especially good news for the filmmakers, given that Borat 2 was a costly endeavor. It was originally slated to hit theaters before the COVID pandemic made many studios shift their release strategies for this year.

Thus far, the sequel -- a follow-up to 2006’s Borat:Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan - has been met with generally positive reviews from critics, including CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg, who gave the film four stars.

Have you watched Borat 2? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!

Jagshemash. With Borat’s new movie now available to stream on Amazon Prime, it’s feeling like 2006 all over again since I’m starting to hear people’s bad Borat impressions again. I mean, it makes sense. Borat is super popular. But is he Sacha Baron Cohen’s best character? Because even though it feels like forever ago, the comedian’s other two most famous characters, Ali G and Bruno, both had their own movies back in 2002 and 2009, respectively. But the thing is, nobody really seems to be discussing which of Sacha Baron Cohen’s character is actually his best.

So that’s what I aim to find out. I’ve done vs. battles in the past with Mortal Kombat vs. Street Fighter, and the 2Pac Shakur biopic against The Notorious B.I.G.’s. But I’ve never done a battle royale with 3 different characters entering the ring and only one coming out on top. Plus, this is the hardest one yet since I love all three Sacha Baron Cohen characters (and yes, I remember the The Dictator, and no, I didn’t like it). So who’s going to be the victor? I don’t know, but as a great philosopher once said: Booyasakasha! I is ready.

Their Movies

All 3 characters have starred in their own films, but which movie is the greatest and has had the longest legacy?

Ali G Indahouse (2002)

The first character out the gate with a movie was Ali G, which makes sense since Sacha Baron Cohen’s major breakout was his HBO series, Da Ali G Show. But to be honest, Ali G Indahouse is kind of terrible. First off, it’s nothing like the show where Ali G used to interview people. Instead, it centered around Ali G getting into politics. And secondly, barely anybody remembers this movie, and even fewer look back upon it fondly. That said, it does have Ali G meeting Borat, so that’s worth something, I guess.

Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan (2006)

Yes, I’m aware that there are 2 Borat movies (I mean, I mentioned it in the intro), and maybe another on the way, but I don’t think it’s fair to include the sequel since Borat is the only character to get one. Still, the first Borat is still uproarious, even today. The film is a hybrid of the show, with there being an actual narrative of Borat coming to America, but also interviews of hapless people who had no idea that it was all an act. There are still several moments in this film that are laugh-out-loud funny (like the naked fight scene), so that even after the gimmick, it’s still highly watchable.

Bruno (2009)

The Austrian, gay fashion journalist also got his own movie back in 2009, and quite frankly, I think it’s the most underappreciated. Much like Borat, Bruno was also a sort of mockumentary with interview segments, but I personally think the narrative was the strongest of the 3 movies. Bruno’s dream is to become “the biggest Austrian superstar since Hitler” and the movie may be even more offensive than Borat, but in the best sort of way. Highlights include Bruno driving what looks like a baby right into traffic and making out with his boyfriend in the middle of a cage fight in front of a booing audience. It’s cringe-worthy gold!

The Victor: Borat

I personally find Bruno much funnier than Borat, but I know I’m in the minority. Plus, if we’re going by box office receipts, then Borat was far and away a bigger success, making $262.6 million domestically compared to Bruno’s $138.8 million, and Ali G Indahouse’s paltry in comparison $25.9 million. No question, Borat wins this round.

The Celebrities They’ve Interviewed

All 3 characters use interviews as a way to expose people’s baser instincts, but who’s interviewed the biggest celebrities, and how did those interviews go?

Ali G

Ali G’s bread and butter was interviews on his program, Da Ali G Show. So it’s little wonder that the character got the best interviews. Just a sample of the celebrities he interviewed on his show included Newt Gingrich, Noah Chomsky, and his “main man” Buzz Aldrin. Plus, President Trump still boasts that he wasn’t fooled by Ali G’s character when Ali G went to him for an investment in an ice cream glove. So yes, phenomenal guests, indeed.

Borat

Borat is interesting since he doesn’t really so much interview celebrities as he talks to random people who have no idea that it’s just an act. He did have a few funny interviews in places like Fox and Friends, but his comedy has always been more broad humor, and sometimes with big crowds.

Bruno

Bruno is an interesting case, too, but his interviews seem a lot more raw since he would talk to self-proclaimed skin heads and “gay converters.” But there’s, of course, that great interview he did with Paula Abdul in the movie where he actually got her to sit on a human chair. And of course that interview with Ron Paul in the hotel room. But that’s mostly the full extent of his celebrity interviews.

The Victor: Ali G

And it’s really not even a contest. Interviews are what Ali G was known for, so it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise that he won this one.

Their Relevance in Pop Culture

All 3 characters are famous, but which one is the biggest pop culture icon?

Ali G

It’s the year 2020, and who’s still talking about Ali G? Sad, but true—especially since Da Ali G Show was Sacha Baron Cohen’s first big whiff of fame—but the character now feels like a relic of the early 2000s, and even somewhat dated today.

Borat

People still love Borat, and the proof is in how many people recently streamed his sequel on Amazon in its first weekend, as the number is something in the range of tens of millions of people. Yeah, Borat’s still got it.

Bruno

Bruno, while a fun character, hasn’t really broken into the mainstream like Borat has. In fact, when his movie came out in 2009, I was like really? Bruno? Because while I’ve always found his character to be the funniest of the three, I never thought anybody else thought he was funny. And with no sequel in sight for Bruno, I still don’t think anybody does.

The Victor: Borat

Borat is still popular, and even without a new movie, would still have been even more popular than the other two characters. The fact that there is a new movie for Borat, though, and not for the other 2 characters, should be proof enough who the biggest pop culture icon is.

The Different Issues They’ve Addressed Through Their Satire

Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedy is never just funny for funny’s sake. Instead, his humor often delves into dark, societal territories. But which character addresses them the best and gets the best reactions out of his subjects?

Ali G

Definitely doing the funniest interviews, Ali G’s whole persona was always funny. But his playing dumb usually just mined easy laughs out of his interviewees’ confusion rather than anything else.

Borat

Borat plays most to middle America by having trashy people show their true colors. He does this by having them sing along to songs like, “Throw the Jew down the well,” and his most recent stunt at an anti-mask rally where he got people to sing along to lyrics about Obama catching “the Wuhan Flu.” The thing is, is it really all that shocking or surprising? No. Not really. Funny, but not surprising.

Bruno

Bruno may actually have people show the worst of themselves through their homophobia. Granted, Bruno goes just as over the top as Borat, but talking to religious figures and even having Paula Abdul sit on Mexican people really shows just how far people will go and not even realize how awful they look or sound on camera.

The Victor: Bruno

Bruno is probably the bravest character out of the three since people still have such yucky (and sometimes violent) feelings about homosexuality, and Bruno’s character makes it visible for all to see.

Their Overall Hilarity

Humor is entirely subjective, but if only one character could exist, which would I pick based off of their hilarity to be the only one?

Ali G

I find Ali G’s interviews hilarious because I can’t believe anybody would take him seriously enough to allow themselves to be filmed. But as I’ve seen from his movie, the bit runs dry very quickly when taken outside of the interview format.

Borat

Borat is beyond lovable even though he spouts some of the most racist, misogynistic, Anti-Semitic comments ever put into a popular film, but he’s also extremely funny and quotable. His bits were fantastic on Da Ali G Show but even better in his subsequent films. And even today, his shock humor still holds up even when you think it shouldn’t. Borat is just immensely hilarious, and most people agree.

Bruno

As I’ve already mentioned quite a bit, Bruno is my favorite Sacha Baron Cohen character. I just find the reactions he gets out of people to be the most hilarious. Probably my favorite moment out of any Sacha Baron Cohen movie is when he has a focus group of what seem like Conservative Americans watching a homoerotic show, and then splicing in men’s penises, much to the disgust of everybody watching. I still crack up at that scene, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.

The Victor: Borat

Look, I know I said I thought Bruno is the funniest character, but I have to try to be impartial here. Borat is far and away thought to be the funniest Sacha Baron Cohen character, so how can I choose anyone else?

The Final Victor: Borat

So yeah, if you were to ask me Sacha Baron Cohen’s best character, it would be a solid Bruno for me. He’s always been my favorite. But the people love Borat, so who am I to disagree? Borat is the winner. But what do you think? Any other Bruno fans out there? Sound off in the comments.

This poll is no longer available.

It must be completely nerve-racking to make a Borat movie. Sacha Baron Cohen and the filmmakers obviously do as much planning as they possibly can when it comes to structuring the story and setting up scenes, but so much of the material depends on unpredictable elements (namely the unsuspecting people Borat interviews), and any scene being filmed has the potential to go terribly wrong at any moment.

Cohen surely has tons of stories about times when things nearly fell apart – but you may be surprised to learn that one such set-up was the interview with Rudy Giuliani in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. And what's even more surprising is that the near-disaster wasn't because of the President's lawyer, but instead because of a silly technical issue.

Following the release of Borat 2 this past weekend, Sacha Baron Cohen visited as a guest on A Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and during the interview discussed how everything nearly fell apart in the bit with Rudy Giuliani. According to the actor, the idea for the set up was that he was hidden away in a custom-built wardrobe, set to jump out when signaled via text message by director Jason Woliner. There was just one problem: his phone was nearly dead. Said Cohen,

Can you even imagine the perfect terror that he experienced at that moment? His blood must have turned ice cold in an instant. Not only was the fate of Borat 2's big climax at stake, but he also had to feel responsibility for the safety of the young woman who plays his daughter, actress Maria Bakalova. Thankfully it all worked out thanks to the battery-saving powers of airplane mode (again, can you imagine the stress of switching that on and off hoping that the cue isn't missed?), and the rest is now cinema history.

While the making of some movies are best kept as a mystery to maintain the magic of the cinematic experience, Borat 2 is proving to be a film that is proving to be only more fascinating with revelations about how it all came together. You can be sure that we are keeping vigilante watch for the best stories to bring you here on CinemaBlend, and if you haven't had the chance to watch it yet, do yourself a favor and check out Borat Subsequent Moviefilm on Amazon Prime now.

You could make an entire movie from leftover scenes that didn’t make it into Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Even if you stopped to think about the number of interviews Sacha Baron Cohen must do in character that don’t turn out well, he must have hours of deleted scenes that were meant for the movie, but didn’t meet the standard he needed for the finished cut. And then there are some scenes that end abruptly, and we as the audience have to be wondering, “How the hell did Cohen get out of that jam?”

One such scene in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm involves the lead character getting up on stage at a gun rally and leading the crowd in a song he wrote, as a fake character named Country Steve, titled The Wuhan Flu. For a while, Borat’s ruse works. But while appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Cohen went on to explain that his cover got blown during that show, and the armed crowd rioted and stormed the stage. The way that he describes it:

Sacha Baron Cohen went on to explain that he knows for sure one member of the country audience reached for a gun that he had, and that Cohen’s security guard stopped him by whispering, “It’s not worth it, man.” As if to prove how disruptive “Country Steve’s” appearance was, Cohen brought footage to Stephen Colbert’s show, and around the seven-minute mark, you can see how the actor and satirist had to barricade himself in his trailer as the angry, manipulated crowd tried to power their way in.

I feel like Sacha Baron Cohen can keep the momentum going on Borat Subsequent Moviefilm in the next few weeks by releasing more footage about how this movie was pieced together. Amazon Prime got a boost from the initial Rudy Giuliani controversy stemming from the movie. But as more people see it, they will want to learn more about how this irregular movie was made.

Have you seen Borat Subsequent Moviefilm yet? What did you think? Hit the comments below and let us know.

While the recognized hallmark of the Borat movies is their outrageousness and insanity, there is one special and unexpected ingredient included in the recently released sequel: heart. Not only does Borat 2 have an arc that sees its titular character come to appreciate his daughter Tutar as a legitimate person, but there is also a wonderfully sweet shared between the Kazakh reporter and a Holocaust survivor named Judith Dim Evans. The latter is one of the best moments in the film, and it's now been revealed that star Sacha Baron Cohen actually broke one of his own traditions in the making of it by letting her know that it was a gag once filming was concluded.

This interesting detail is included in a report from Deadline which primarily focuses on the news that the recent lawsuit filed by Judith Dim Evans' estate (she passed away in the time between when the Borat 2 segment was filmed and the film was released) has been dismissed. According to the trade site, Sacha Baron Cohen felt that he owed respect to the woman he talked with and her friend, and had someone tell her that Borat was played by a Jewish actor who aimed to promote Holocaust education via a horrifically anti-Semitic character.

SPOILER WARNING: The rest of this article contains some spoilers for Borat 2. If you have not yet watched the film, continue at your own risk!

In Borat 2, the eponymous character meets Judith Dim Evans and her friend in a synagogue after having discovered disinformation claiming that the Holocaust didn't happen. In order to try and blend, he dresses in a costume ripped straight out of World War II propaganda, but Evans and the other woman at the temple don't react with anger or outrage. Instead, they recognize that the idiot's terrible behavior stems from fear, and so Evans chooses to try and defeat that fear with love. She embraces him, kisses him, and feeds him soup, and while the big punchline at the end is Borat's jubilation at Evans' revelation that she experienced the Holocaust first hand, that doesn't undercut the beauty of the very real moment.

It's a wonderful scene in Borat 2, and in further demonstration of his commitment to do right by Judith Dim Evans, Sacha Baron Cohen and Amazon are planning significant moves. The star and the streamer are collaborating to have the footage of Evans that didn't make it into the movie included via the X-Ray bonus content on the site, including her discussing her family's experience during World War II. Separately, the filmmakers have been working with the family to make a website dedicated to her memory, and the film itself is actually dedicated to her.

It's a great story from behind the scenes of a great film, and we expect a lot more to emerge in the coming days and weeks, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for the latest.

Despite an ongoing pandemic, a US Presidential Election that’s a little more than two weeks away and all kinds of additional 2020 craziness, Rudy Giuliani’s surprise appearance in Borat 2 has been a major source of conversation both in the movie world and the political world. It seems everyone (including Borat himself) has their own takes. Giuliani offered a defense of himself, and now President Trump has even been asked. He’s worked extensively with the former New York City Mayor during his time in the White House, and he was actually interviewed by Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen more than a decade ago on Da Ali G Show. He hasn’t offered any public comments on the big scene itself, but he apparently did offer some thoughts on Cohen.

President Trump’s comments reportedly came during a chat on a range of topics with the White House Press Corps on Air Force One. During the questioning, he was asked about the Borat 2 scene and whether he was worried about security issues. He didn’t tackle that issue directly, but he did offer these more general thoughts, per Steve Herman, the White House Bureau Chief for Voice Of America…

President Trump is, of course, referring to his own appearance on Da Ali G Show way back in 2003. In it, Sacha Baron Cohen, playing his Ali G character not his Borat character, sits down with the businessman who was just a year away from launching his mega-successful reality show The Apprentice. The chat is extremely brief. Ali G tries to get Trump to invest in ice cream gloves. He’s clearly not interested and doesn’t even make a strong attempt to hide his disdain. He ends the interview almost immediately. You can check out footage below…

Reviews of the first Borat movie were almost universally positive with many giving the film near perfect scores. Reviews of the Subsequent Moviefilm have been mostly positive though not so complimentary. There is definitely a loss of originality that comes from going to the same well twice, but the movie still finds ways to shock and surprise. Borat’s daughter, played by the delightful Maria Bakalova, is a wonderful addition, and the more topical humor will no doubt please some while turning off others.

You can watch the entire movie, which includes the much discussed Rudy Giuliani scene, for free on Amazon Prime right now. I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, but if you enjoy cringe humor and aren’t turned off by graphic material, you’ll have a good time.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains absolutely massive spoilers from Borat 2. If you do not wish to know about major scenes in the film before seeing it yourself, proceed at your own risk!

At this point, audiences go into a Borat movie with the full expectation of outrageousness… and yet Jason Woliner's Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan somehow manages to over-deliver. Not everything that the sequel tries actually works, but when it does, the film is phenomenally explosive and shocking. Like with the first one, there are scenes in Borat 2 that audiences are going to be talking about for years to come.

We here at CinemaBlend are still processing everything that transpires in the movie – and in that sense, you can almost look at this as a kind of therapy. Out of everything that happens in the Amazon Prime release, here are the moments that are particularly tattooed onto our brains, and show no sign of fading.

The Rudy Giuliani Interview

Let’s start by talking about a scene so shocking that people couldn’t even wait for Borat 2 to be released before discussing it openly. While the titular character has a long history of getting notable figures to sit down on camera, the “interview” between Tutar Sagdiyev and Rudy Giuliani – the personal attorney of the President of the United States – exists on a whole other level. The fawning, coughing, and lack of social distancing is one thing, but the moment that will never be forgotten is when the former New York City mayor reaches down his unzipped pants before being interrupted by a lingerie-clad Borat. It is unquestionably the protagonist’s new high bar for insanity, no matter what one believes was actually happening.

The Debutante Ball

Borat and daughter Tutar going to a debutante ball is one of the more transparent set-ups found in Borat 2, as you know from moment one that it’s all going to lead to a major punchline. Regardless, it still winds up being of the film’s greatest scenes. First comes the great appetizer in the form of that awful man who actually puts a dollar figure on Tutar (much to the disgust of the girl he is escorting), but the real show is the father-daughter dance. Even after Tutar mentions that she has started her period, you don’t know exactly where it’s going, but by the end your jaw is definitely on the dance floor.

CPAC 2020 And The Offering To Vice President Pence

When a bit starts off with your main character entering a Republican convention wearing KKK robes and screaming, “I’m Stephen Miller,” only for no one around to bat an eye, you know that you have the makings of comedic gold. Things only escalate from there, as Borat slips on a Donald Trump costume in the bathroom before making a charge at a mid-speech Michael Pence with his daughter slung over his shoulder. It’s the kind of scene that dries your eyes out because you’re left so agog that you forget to blink – and it’s actually pretty incredible that Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova didn’t get arrested or at least detained as a result.

Propane Tanks Of Death

Somebody needs to be made responsible for making sure that King of the Hill's Hank never watches Borat 2, because he might keel over and die upon hearing the suggestion that the Kazakh journalist has for using propane tanks. What’s far, far worse than Borat satirically suggesting the use of the gas to kill gypsies (it is a joke after all) is that the salesperson who is showing him around doesn’t hesitate for a second at agreeing to the idea. Hell, the guy even tries an upsell when Borat raises the hypothetical number of gypsies that could be murdered. Along with the guy seeing no problem with Tutar being forced to live in a cage, this showcases the special kind of abhorrent thoughts that Sacha Baron Cohen has a gift for eliciting from the people he meets.

Meeting A Holocaust Survivor In A Beyond-Anti-Semitic Costume

Borat gets away with a lot of horrible anti-Semitic behavior and rhetoric because of the fact that Sacha Baron Cohen is personally Jewish, but even that rationality gets tested to the extreme in Borat 2 when the eponymous journalist decides to visit a synagogue. It’s insane enough that he dresses up as what can only be described as "anti-Semitic propaganda brought to life" by wearing an elongated nose, fake claws, and a pair of plastic demon wings. But what makes your heart truly drop in your chest is when he comes across a pair of elderly women – one of whom introduces herself as a survivor of the Holocaust. By the end of the interaction, the whole situation winds up actually being incredibly beautiful, as the survivor's natural response to hate is demonstrating love. Still, it doesn't make any of the preceding moments any less shocking.

The Hillsborough Republican Women’s Club Meeting

Audiences going in to Borat 2 know what Sacha Baron Cohen is capable of comedically, but the big revelation of the film is the outrageous talent of co-star Maria Bakalova, who proves incredibly gifted when it comes to doing what it is that Cohen does so well. The Hillsborough Republican Women’s Club meeting is the perfect example, as it’s a moment that Tutar carries entirely on her own, and it’s screamingly funny. After spending almost the entire movie afraid of her own genitalia, the teenage girl ends up espousing the wonders of masturbation to a group of conservative women, and the reactions she gets from the room are priceless – ending with the brilliance of “Someone call her an Uber.”

The March For Our Rights Rally

Borat has a history of performing songs with insanely abhorrent lyrics, memorably introducing “In My Country There Is Problem (Throw The Jew Down The Well)” in Season 2 of Da Ali G Show. That legacy certainly lives on in Borat 2 with the disturbing “What You Gonna Do?” as performed at a March For Our Rights rally in Olympia, Washington. Once again, it's not so much funny that Borat sings about injecting former President Barack Obama with COVID-19, or chopping up journalists “like the Saudis do,” but rather that he actually compels the crowd to sing along with him in agreement with those heinous sentiments. Just unbelievable stuff.

What was your reaction to all of these moments in Borat 2? Did they have the same devastating effect on you as they had on us? Are there moments that you feel deserve to be highlighted, but don’t appear in this list? Hit the comments section with all of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions, and be on the lookout for plenty more of our Borat coverage here on CinemaBlend in the coming days.

As soon as Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (or Borat 2) was announced, cinephiles knew the film would usher in a new era of controversy -- both for the film’s star, Sacha Baron Cohen, and for whoever he happened to cross paths with while in production. While the sequel is predictably full of jaw-dropping moments, the most talked about scene features Rudy Giuliani caught in a compromising position. His response to the scandal has only led to more headlines, and it’s something Sacha Baron Cohen himself admits is fascinating.

One of the hallmarks of the Borat franchise is the way in which Sacha Baron Cohen’s fictitious alter ego, Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev, can humiliate people by duping them into believing they’re engaging in legitimate interviews. What’s most surprising about the Borat schtick is how easily it still seems to work -- even on prominent public figures like Rudy Giuliani.

In Borat 2, actress Maria Bakalova adopts the persona of Borat’s 15-year-old daughter and attempts to engage Rudy Giuliani in a, um, private conversation following what he believes to be an interview. Late in the film, the former New York City mayor and current lawyer for Donald Trump is seen entering a hotel room with her on the auspices of sharing a drink. He can be seen laying down on a hotel bed and reaching into his pants before Borat bursts into the room.

Once word about his appearance in Borat 2 got out, Rudy Giuliani tweeted that the scene in question is a “complete fabrication” and argued that there was nothing inappropriate about what went down. For his part, Sacha Baron Cohen told Digital Spy how he feels about the politician’s response:

Sacha Baron Cohen then went on to say that more than anything, he wants fans to watch Borat 2 and make up their own minds about what happens on screen:

For what it’s worth, Borat 2 also almost featured a moment in which the fictional journalist successfully infiltrated the White House, but it was left on the cutting room floor. Borat 2 is Sacha Baron Cohen’s follow-up to the wildly controversial 2006 mockumentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, like many other films this year, it debuted on a streaming platform -- in this case Amazon Prime.

Even before it finally started streaming on Amazon Prime, Sacha Baron Cohen’s sequel Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was making headlines. There’s the controversial Rudy Giuliani scene, in which the current advisor to President Donald Trump got himself caught in a compromising position with Cohen’s Borat 2 co-star, Maria Bakalova. And now we are learning that Giuliani isn’t the only person in Trump’s universe to have bene duped by this duo.

That’s a deleted scene from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. And I have no clue how they didn’t include it. It shows Maria Bakalova posing as a journalist to befriend a member of the conservative news network OAN – specifically, the network’s White House correspondent, Chanel Rion. And even though Bakalova is an actress, one who is posing as Borat’s “daughter” for the benefit of the movie, she still manages to work her way into the White House briefing room.

How the hell is that possible?

The clip, mind you, is taken out of context. We don’t know what Maria Bakalova said to OAN reporter Chanel Rion to get her to usher her into the White House. But still… THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE. How does the co-star of a Borat movie get into the press briefing room? This should be difficult, no? When the nation is in the middle of a pandemic (as seen by Rion wearing a mask), this shouldn’t happen.

It doesn’t stop there. At a separate point, now donning a brown wig (as opposed to the blonde one she had on with Chanel Rion), Maria Bakalova managed to get up close and personal with Donald Trump Jr., pretending to be “nervous” and “excited” about meeting him. This interaction is less controversial. They look like they are at a crowded meet-and-greet. It’s not the White House.

How much additional footage do we think Sacha Baron Cohen has from the making of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm? Enough to keep rolling out clips like this on social media? Enough to make… a third film? While it’s unfortunate that the Borat sequel isn’t making its way to movie theaters, it absolutely is raising Amazon Prime’s profile, and is expected to generate strong streams this weekend. No one knew that we needed a Borat sequel. But now that it’s here, it’s worth watching, and talking about.

Also, all kudos to Maria Bakalova, a true standout from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. She is as gifted of a comedian as Sacha Baron Cohen, and thinks incredibly quickly on her feet inprovisational situation that have to be mined for comedy. So many of them could go south if Bakalova can’t react quick and keep conversation flowing. There’s Oscar talk for the performance, and while that might sounds crazy on the surface, it’s deserved.

Sacha Baron Cohen shocked the film industry in 2006 when his Kazakhstani reporter character Borat (played by Cohen) got a feature-length film that showcased his ability to coax uncomfortable honesty out of gullible people for the benefit of shock comedy. Cohen went after big-ticket subjects – racism, intolerance, skewed politics – and is doing so again in the sequel Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. But one prank that is pivotal to the movie is making major headlines and is bound to have a serious effect on the political landscape.

While this scene is not a spoiler, per se, we will have to get into the details of a significant scene that happens near the end of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Stop reading now if you do not want to know anything more about the comedy, which lands on Amazon Prime on October 23.

The plot of the movie, if you can call it that, involves Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) attempting to give a “gift” to Mike Pence so that Kazakhstan can get back in the good graces of America. The gift is supposed to be a monkey – this makes more sense in the movie – but Borat has to pivot and start to offer his “daughter,” Tutar (played brilliantly by Maria Bakalova) to political leaders. The joke being that anyone who qualifies – from Michael Flynn to Michael Cohen – are imprisoned.

Eventually, Borat and his daughter settle on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. If Borat is unable to “deliver” the girl to Giuliani as a gift, he will have to head home to Kazakhstan and face extermination. So they stage a scenario where Tutar poses as a journalist interviewing Giuliani on camera in New York City hotel room. And what plays out is jaw-dropping.

The interview is going normally. Bakalova, playing Tutar, acts intimidated and deferential to Giuliani, who encourages her, tells her she is doing great, and supports her interview style. At one point, Sacha Baron Cohen – disguised as an audio tech – interrupts the interview and speaks with both Giuliani and Bakalova, even sneaking in a joke about Giuliani marrying his own cousin. This very clearly IS Rudy Giuliani, and no deception or slight-of-hand is occurring on screen.

As the interview concludes, Bakalova asks Giuliani if he’d like to “have a drink” in the back bedroom. He agrees. To be fair, her back is to the camera, and this bit of audio could have been added in post. We hear her say that, but do not see it. In the bedroom, we can see Rudy Giuliani fiddling with Bakalova’s dress before sitting on the bed. We hear Giuliani say:

And he reaches up and strokes Maria Bakalova’s back. She appears to be messing with his shirt, and the first time I watched the scene, I assumed she was removing a microphone wire that might have been run up through his dress shirt for the purpose of the interview. Why she would do this for him, I do not know.

Now, the moment that looks most suspicious, and one that I assume will be discussed and debated for days. Rudy Giuliani lays back on the bed. He reaches his hands into his pants, and on subsequent viewings, it looks like he might be tucking his shirt back in. But before anything else can happen, Sacha Baron Cohen bursts back into the room, warning Giuliani that his “daughter” is only 15, and that she is too old for him. Naturally, Baron Cohen is wearing lacy underwear as he bursts in the room. This is Borat, after all.

Was it a prank, or something far more incriminating? The scene certainly looks like it could have been manipulated, with edits and audio cues that raise suspicion. But the video itself is shocking, and has been an immediate subject of discussion now that the review embargo on Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie has been lifted.

Rudy Giuliani did address this awkward situation in July 2020. The New York Post reports that Giuliani called the police over the prank, stating:

So the news of this interaction has been out there since July. But now that the public will be able to see it, once the movie lands on Amazon Prime, we are beginning to wonder what impact it will have, if any, on Rudy Giuliani.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm already is making headlines. If you want to read our review of the new comedy, click here. You can stream the movie for yourself on Friday, October 23.

When the first Borat movie was released in 2006, it was the equivalent of a comedy bomb being dropped on the world. Fans of Da Ali G Show had been familiar with the Sacha Baron Cohen character for six years prior to the release of the film, but still nobody was fully prepared for the big screen outrageousness that the feature had to offer. It successfully inspired fits of hysterical laughter from audiences around the globe, and as a mockumentary it also now serves as a strange time capsule for a significant moment in history, having done a ridiculously excellent job depicting American life in the wake of September 11, 2001.

Fourteen years later we’ve hit another moment of great chaos and conflict, and now Borat Sagdiyev has returned to shine a light on all of it with another jaw-dropping and hilarious film. As should be expected, it doesn’t quite have the same shock quality as its predecessor (a victim of expectation vs. surprise), but it also succeeds by mixing in plenty of new with the effort to recapture the spirit of the original. And it even manages to inject some heart into the formula.

The feature debut by director Jason Woliner, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery Of Prodigious Bribe To American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan (which actually changes its title multiple times) catches audiences up with the life of its titular Kazakhstani television journalist, and reveals that things haven’t been all that great for him in the years since his hit movie was released. It turns out that said hit movie turned Kazakhstan into a laughing stock and caused the country’s economy to plummet, leaving Borat to be punished unmercifully and sent to a prison camp.

Then his opportunity for redemption comes around. The Kazakhstan government believes that there is a chance to improve the nation’s relationship with America through President Donald Trump, known for being friendly to authoritarian regimes, and because of Borat’s history with the country he is selected as an envoy to deliver a bribe. Initially the idea is to give Vice President Michael Pence the gift of Johnny The Monkey, a local celebrity chimpanzee, but that plan falls apart when Borat’s daughter, Tutar Sagdiyev (Maria Bakalova), stows away in Johnny’s crate.

Needing to improvise so that he can avoid being put to death by his government, Borat calls an audible and comes up with the idea to offer Tutar to the vice president instead. The first step to making this work is transforming the 15-year-old girl into a desirable, American-esque woman, but doing so also exposes Tutar to the reality that life is much different for women in Kazakhstan compared to the United States.

Borat 2 doesn’t have the freshness of its predecessor, but is still successfully outrageous.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm has the disadvantages that come with any comedy sequel – including the existence of a set quality bar that needs to be met or surmounted to be accepted, and playing to an audience that is already totally aware of the core bit – and they do make an impact. A joke can land much better if you aren’t even aware of the setup before the punchline, and the Borat follow-up doesn’t have that luxury. As a result, some of the more basic encounters between the journalist and Americans, particularly those that are comedically heightened by misunderstandings, don’t hit with the same ferocity.

Of course, one of Hollywood’s sequel rules is that follow-ups have to “go bigger,” and Borat 2 follows protocol by making some audacious swings that hit spectacularly. Borat continues to unleash some of the most remarkably terrible things you’ve ever heard a person say in a public setting while having conversations with strangers, and the ridiculous comedic fortitude is enough to knock you off your sofa as both Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova decimate a series of organized events that they crash with their antics. A new high cinematic standard for scenes at a debutante ball is set with the film (perhaps never to be topped), and Tutar’s big moment on stage at a meeting of a Republican Women’s Club is gold.

Borat’s daughter is the film’s secret weapon.

I’d add that the popularity of Borat is another disadvantage faced by the film, as you’d think that the public’s awareness of the character would limit the “undercover” idea, but that’s not really a thing, and not only because the movie has a funny workaround for that particular problem. The real reason that it’s not an issue is because the sequel is much more of a two-hander than you’d expect, and because Maria Bakalova is everything that the movie needs. The first film put everything on Cohen’s shoulders, but here he shares the load, and Bakalova proves to be a performer more than up for the task.

Many of the best scenes in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm have the father and daughter playing off one another, but Bakalova also shows that she can do what Cohen does independently and with equal effect. It’s a very real breakout moment for the Bulgarian actress, who we’ll hopefully start to see in many more comedies in the coming years.

As a vehicle for commentary on modern American life and general humanity, Borat remains a winner.

Of course, the absurd behavior by Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova is only half the joke, as it’s the reactions that they get that provide the movie with brilliant social satire. Borat can say those aforementioned remarkably terrible things because the audience is aware that he is a fictional character; what’s really eye-opening and appalling is when the people he’s with either idly ignore him, or full-heartedly agree with his sentiments – exposing themselves and their terribleness just because they think they are in friendly company. This includes not only random Americans who the duo encounter on their journey, but also notable people whose names I won’t spoil here.

What makes Borat Subsequent Moviefilm different than its predecessor, however, is that it’s not all ugliness that is on display. There is actual heart in this film, from Tutar learning about the opportunities that exist for women outside of the hyperbolically misogynistic culture of Kazakhstan, to the ridiculously anti-Semitic Borat being embraced by a pair of Jewish women in a synagogue, to a pair of QAnon conspiracy theorists making an impassioned plea to try and save the Kazakhstani reporter from a horrible fate. It adds a compelling tonal complexity to the piece that also enhances the themes without getting in the way of the comedy.

Amid all of the insanity of 2020, it’s incredible that Borat 2 actually got made – and we’re lucky we did because it is the movie we need right now. Sacha Baron Cohen’s satiric instincts remain as sharp as ever, and the result is a sequel that is as smart as it is funny. It doesn’t have the full capacity to land like the original did, but it’s most definitely a worthy follow-up.

In 2006, Borat Sagdiyev became a phenomenon. While the Sacha Baron Cohen character was familiar to some audiences, as he was first introduced on the series Da Ali G Show, his feature film turned him into an icon. People watched with mouths agape as the fake Kazakhstani immigrant exposed the strangeness of American life and participated in downright outrageous behavior, and it generated an uproarious response that led to blockbuster success. Now he’s coming back for Borat 2, titled Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, and that makes this the opportune moment to reflect on the highlights of his previous movie.

Reflecting on the original Borat, there are a number of key scenes that particularly stand out in memory, and we’ve put this feature together in celebration of those hilarious cinematic moments. Like the movie in its entirety, there is a mix of both real and fake, but what all of the sequences share in common is that they’re remarkably funny.

Life In Kazakhstan

When it comes to understanding a person, it helps to understand where it is that they come from, and watching the depiction of Kazakhstan life in Borat you certainly get a grounding of the character in a particular reality. An extreme parody that was actually filmed in Romania, Kazakhstan is depicted as beyond poverty-stricken and beyond anti-Semitic, and the bluntness with which the ridiculousness is handled is genius. From the “naughty-naughty” town rapist to the unexplained cow living in his house, it takes only a few minutes watching the film before it has you rolling on the floor in hysterics.

Making Friends With New Yorkers

The cross-country trip that Borat embarks on in the movie does a wonderful job showing the extreme diversity of modern American life, and while doing so plays with a number of regional stereotypes. For example: it may surprise you to learn that the people of New York on the whole aren’t the warmest and friendliest bunch. Admittedly nothing in the situation is helped by the fact that Borat acts like a total freak – unleashing a chicken in his luggage on the subway, and asking attractive women “how much?” – but it’s also ridiculous just how abhorrent some individuals find even the slightest outreach from a stranger.

The National Anthem

When Borat begins his special appearance at a Virginia rodeo, things actually start out on a pretty good foot. The crowd doesn’t fully grasp parody in the immigrant’s support of the Iraq War, calling it America’s “War of Terror” and calling for President George W. Bush to drink the blood of Iraqi citizens, but things fall apart quickly when he starts singing the national anthem. The audience is with him at the start as he replaces the words of Francis Scott Key with the lyrics from the Kazakhstan national anthem, but he loses them pretty damn fast when he starts talking about all other countries being run by little girls and railing on international potassium exports.

Of course, the bit also has the perfect punchline with the flag-waving man on horseback falling to the ground in the background.

The Dinner Party

The kind word that can be used to describe Borat’s behavior is “rude,” but the extremes of that word’s definition are pushed to a breaking point when the film’s titular protagonist attends a dinner party with an eating club while traveling through the South. To the credit of the hosts, they exhibit some extreme patience while Borat demonstrates that he is unaware of how to use indoor plumbing and insults the appearance of one of the women at the table. There’s only so much they can take, though, and the limit proves to be the Kazakhstani inviting a prostitute over to be his guest.

Naked Wrestling

Sacha Baron Cohen is a remarkably bold performer who is willing to go to some extreme lengths to get a laugh from an audience, and nowhere in Borat is that clearer than the scene where the protagonist finds his producer, Azamat (Ken Davitian) masturbating using Borat’s Baywatch magazine. This ultimately leads to what has to be one of the most disgusting fight scenes in cinematic history, as the two not only wrestle naked in their hotel room, but take their fight out into public spaces as well – including a convention ballroom where an event is being held.

The Frat Dudes

If a person is harboring horrible, hateful ideology, a simple way to expose it is by making them feel like they are in a “safe” place surrounded by people who think the same way – and that’s what makes the frat boys scene in Borat so jaw-dropping. Within the span of just a few minutes sitting around with the immigrant in a camper the young men espouse their wish that slavery existed in America, and share multiple racist viewpoints, and it’s staggering to watch. It’s ugly, shocking, and eye-opening – and while it’s not a laugh-out-loud part of the mockumentary, it is an important part of the portrait that the film paints of American life.

Kidnapping Pamela Anderson

Does it make it less funny that the kidnapping of Pamela Anderson at the end of Borat is staged? Yeah, a little. However, when weighed against the possibility that Sacha Baron Cohen could have been arrested (or worse), the movie definitely made the right choice – and the sequence is definitely hilarious. The entire story leads up to the meeting between Borat and the Baywatch star, and it’s rewardingly ridiculous to see the Kazakh reporter try and bag her up and steal her away. It’s a final note in the journey through America that the upcoming sequel is going to have a hard time topping.

If reading this article has only made you more interested in revisiting Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan prior to the sequel, the good news is that the movie now available to stream for all Amazon Prime subscribers. As for the follow-up, audiences will be able to catch it on the same service starting on October 23.

14 years after Sacha Baron Cohen brought his Da Ali G Show character Borat to the big screen, the actor is reprising the socially inappropriate Kazakhstani journalist for Borat 2, a.k.a. Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm (to use its shorter official title). Just like in 2006, the sequel will see Borat Sagdiyev interacting with real-life people and causing plenty of uncomfortable situations. In fact, some of those situations became downright dangerous, to the point that Cohen was legitimately scared for his life.

Sacha Baron Cohen touched on a particularly frightening incident he experienced during the making of Borat 2 in an editorial he wrote for Time. As Cohen recalled:

To quote Will Ferrell’s Anchorman character Ron Burgundy, boy, that escalated quickly… I mean that really got out of hand fast. It had previously been reported that Sacha Baron Cohen donned a bulletproof vest on two different shooting days, and at least now we have a frame of reference for why that layer of protection was necessary for one of those days.

Still, considering what kind of shenanigans Sacha Baron Cohen got into in the first Borat movie, him angering a crowd of people like this is nothing new. Judging by the Borat 2 trailer released last week, Cohen didn’t miss a beat in getting into this ridiculous and disruptive groove. Of course, it helps that Cohen briefly appeared as Borat on Jimmy Kimmel Live! a few times in recent years, so it’s not like the character had been entirely collecting dust for nearly a decade and a half.

When 2020 began, there was no indication that Borat 2 was on the way, and it was only at the beginning of September that the sequel’s existence was publicly revealed. Shot both before and during the current health crisis, Borat 2 sees the eponymous character traveling to the United States to deliver his daughter, Sandra Jessica Parker Sagdiyev, to Vice President Mike Pence, as well as explore how American culture has changed since his last visit.

However, with Borat saying that his first movie “brought great shame” to Kazakhstan, and with so many people in the U.S. recognizing him, the sequel will also see Sacha Baron Cohen donning various other disguises so he can more effectively take his interviewees off guard. Along with Borat 2, Cohen can also be seen soon in Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, where he plays political activist Abbie Hoffman.

Rather than play in theaters like its predecessor did, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery Of Prodigious Bribe To American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan (that’s a mouthful) will premiere on October 23 on Amazon Prime Video. As for movies that are getting a theatrical release, you can learn what’s expected to come out next year in our 2021 release schedule.

It was more than 20 years ago that Sacha Baron Cohen unleashed the ridiculously improper Kazakh reporter Borat Sagdiyev to the world on Da Ali G Show, and those who saw Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan back in 2006 will regard it as a rather unforgettable experience. Sadly we've seen very little from the character since, and it's been rough. But soon that drought will come to an end. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery Of Prodigious Bribe To American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan aka Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm will be exclusively streaming on Amazon Prime started on October 23, and now our very first trailer for the movie is available for you to enjoy below:

Apparently, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm sees everyone’s favorite roving reporter in a bit of a jam, as the past 14 years have been pretty miserable for Borat. With the antics of his first film shaming his homeland so harshly he became a rather painful carnival attraction in Kazakhstan, one could imagine the tortures he’s endured that we’ve yet to see. However, with a new mission, and his young daughter in tow, it looks like Borat might be able to redeem himself in the eyes of the Kazakh government. It’s just going to take some hidden camera shenanigans, and the bribe of his daughter’s hand delivered to “Vice Premiere” Pence to seal the deal.

Of course, this isn’t just some project shot in the before times, as Borat Subsequent Moviefilm tackles the America we live in today. With Borat and his daughter roaming the heartland, during the time of COVID-19, there’s a lot of questions surrounding just how America has changed since Borat’s last visit. In that respect, and with the mass lack of masks during the footage we’ve seen, it almost sounds like this sequel could double as a horror film for some.

Watching the trailer to Borat Subsequent Moviefilm has to be one of the great delights of 2020, especially considering this movie snuck in under the radar like a thief in the night. Sacha Baron Cohen’s gleefully disruptive nature is the sort of energy the year of the hellscape could use, and it’s all the better when realizing that it’s been too long since we’ve seen him in the wild. With 2018’s hot button Showtime series Who Is America?providing more of the same right before the US midterm elections of that year, it should have been a given that Cohen would eventually return to his usual bag of disguises and uncomfortable questions.

And uncomfortable is pretty much the most appropriate, yet totally unfitting, term to encapsulate Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. There’s no telling what word will fit when all is said and done, because this subsequent moviefilm has a significant challenge that every comedy sequel eventually has to face: it needs to outdo its predecessor. Then again, considering the film had already announced itself as Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan, and then changed its name to the uber abrasive/hysterical final title you saw above at the last minute, it already looks like we’re in for one hell of a ride.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe To American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan will be available on Amazon’s Prime Video as of October 23rd, which will only make the film a perfect pairing with Sacha Baron Cohen’s other film, The Trial of the Chicago 7. That movie is currently available in limited theaters, with an October 16th release date on Netflix. But don’t forget, there’s still other films to discover, in theaters and on streaming, as you’ll see in our comprehensive 2020 release schedule for making glorious plans for moviefilm viewings.

Thanks to the typical season-long awards race, the fall is generally the home for the year's most prestigious films, and in recent years Netflix has become a major player in that race with films like Alfonso Cuaron's Roma, Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story, and Martin Scorsese's The Irishman. That trend is continuing this year with the release of Aaron Sorkin's The Trial Of The Chicago 7, and based on the trailer that has just been released, it looks like it is going to be a seriously intense ride through a tension-fraught period of American history. Check it out below!

Being one of the most well-respected filmmakers in Hollywood, Aaron Sorkin has never had a problem getting talented actors to be a part of his projects, but this film features what is perhaps his best ensemble to date. There are so many awesome actors in this thing that they don't even all appear in this trailer! You likely spotted Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but this is a cast that also includes Michael Keaton, William Hurt, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Rory Cochrane, Frank Langella, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and more.

Set in the late 1960s and featuring a very on the nose title, the film's story centers on the trial of the Chicago Seven – a group of counterculture activists whom the federal government tried to charge with conspiracy following a riot that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The film was originally going to be released by Paramount, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the studio sold the distribution rights to Netflix, and now the movie is one of their big releases for the fall season.

This is a film that has been in development for an excessively long time, and thus its pretty amazing to actually see this footage finally arrive. Aaron Sorkin initially wrote the screenplay for The Trial Of The Chicago 7 back in 2007 (so we're talking pre-Social Network and Moneyball), and the original plan was for Steven Spielberg to direct it. Unfortunately, the development of the film also happened to coincide with the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, which led to Spielberg dropping out. Then there was a time when Paul Greengrass was attached to make it, but that relationship lasted all of two months. The silver lining is that Sorkin gained some feature directorial experience in the years while the project sat on a shelf, and it was in 2018 that plans were announced for him to direct it himself.

The Netflix-released feature is just the second that Aaron Sorkin has directed, having made his debut in the big chair with Molly's Game back in 2017. The movie didn't exactly light the box office on fire, but it earned positive reviews and Sorkin's script was nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay award at the Oscars. To echo the sentiment above, after seeing the trailer for The Trial Of The Chicago 7 it would be none to surprising to see the film earn the filmmaker his fourth nomination at the big show... and possibly even take home a trophy for the second time (his first win being for The Social Network).

Originally the plan was for The Trial Of The Chicago 7 to be released on September 25, but the deal between Paramount and Netflix resulted in the release being pushed a few weeks. Now it is set up so that subscribers to the streaming service will have access to the film starting on October 16 – and given how much anticipation is surrounding the release, you can be sure that we'll have more coverage of the movie coming your way between now and its arrival online.

Few people commit to a prank harder than Sacha Baron Cohen. The popular comedian and character actor has repeatedly put himself in awkward and sometimes even dangerous situations in order to get material for his movies and TV shows. That continued this past weekend when he reportedly showed up at a March For Our Rights rally, went on stage in heavy makeup and performed a song about intentionally harming and/ or infecting liberals, minority groups and various political figures like President Obama and Dr. Fauci with Covid-19.

Details about what exactly happened are still emerging, as it was a pretty chaotic situation, but the basic outline seems to be at least somewhat clear, as told by The Daily Beast. Basically, an event called March For Our Rights 3 was organized in Olympia, Washington. Sometime beforehand, an organization allegedly reached out and offered to sponsor the event, provided it made room for an additional band and security guards. The event, which was allegedly organized by a group with ties to a right wing militia, reportedly agreed, but the sponsor was allegedly Sacha Baron Cohen, who was also the lead singer of the new band.

He hit the stage during the event heavily disguised and proceeded to bust out an extended song of more than eight minutes that touched on conspiracies, anti-liberal politics, racism and science. At various points, he also implored the audience to sing with him. Some did, though it’s unclear based on the direction of the video, how many participated and/ or how many total people were even at the event. You can check it out below…

The internet’s best guess is that the stunt/ prank/ protest act was likely something Sacha Baron Cohen is shooting for Who Is America? Season 2. Right now, however, none of that is confirmed. It’s all theory, speculation and confusion, which is a trifecta the comedian has thrived on during his career. Sometimes letting people wonder for awhile is far better publicity than clearing up the rumors. We’ll have to see.

Cohen has long made a career out of lampooning sub-sections of culture. He’s targeted politicians, celebrities, racists, homophobes and a wide variety of others. At this point, it’s unclear whether his target is more generally aimed at the far right wing or whether he’s going to be focusing on the pushback against Covid-19 restrictions or what. Then again, it’s also still possible that he just did this as a prank to raise awareness about fringe protests and isn’t planning to use the footage for anything else. We’re just going to have to wait and let him speak for himself unless more information emerges.

We’ll keep you updated if/ when either Cohen or Showtime releases more information. Until then, feel free to check our Borat or Da Ali G Show in preparation for hopefully seeing this footage at some point.

Divorce as a concept isn’t exactly a laughing matter, and it certainly should be treated with the respect and weight it deserves. And yet, when actual comedy is the cause for said divorce, it’s kind of hard not to have a laugh or two at the expense of the moment.

That’s exactly what it sounds like when it comes to the reason former lovebirds Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock split up, as Sacha Baron Cohen revealed that a joke he and Anderson engaged in for his film Borat, which saw her being kidnapped by the eponymous character, was the cause for her big split. Cohen described how he found out about this thusly:

The text exchange referred to above happened after Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson has screened Borat together, which lead to Rock screaming some rather colorful things, as he’s wont to do when things get serious, at his then wife. Of course, once calmer heads prevailed, a divorce was to be had, and sure enough, Sacha Baron Cohen knew that Pamela Anderson wasn’t joking.

In a career as full of comedic moments that employ quite a bit of shock value and subterfuge, the most surprising fact revealed during Sacha Baron Cohen’s talk with The Daily Beast was that Pamela Anderson was the one person to say yes to committing to the gag that was featured in Borat. To be fair, Cohen did point out that if he didn’t get her permission, the whole endeavor would have totally been kidnapping. He may be all about getting the laugh at the end of the day, but he’s smart enough not to end up in jail.

Another oddity when discussing this particular scene was the fact that it took two takes to really get the desired effect, as it was pointed out that during the first attempt at a book signing, none of Pamela Anderson’s fans came to her aid. And as Cohen also revealed during that same talk, there was a slight bit of injury involved as well:

After all of this talking about a comedy moment that’s over a decade old, but still funny as ever, you’re probably in the mood to see how that infamous gag from Borat turned out. Well, through the magic of the internet, you can feast your eyes on that footage below:

With his most recent project, the Showtime series Who Is America?, looking to make a play for some Emmy awards, now’s as good a time as any to revel in the glow of what Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedy can do when people aren’t expecting it. And while divorce still isn’t funny at large, it’s certainly a bit humorous when put into the context of what you’ve seen above, as well as the Halloween costumes it inspired.

A biopic of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was in the works for the better part of a decade before finally coming to fruition with last year's Bohemian Rhapsody. For a good number of those years, Sacha Baron Cohen was the actor reportedly set to play Freddie Mercury before dropping out due to creative differences. Regardless, according to Bohemian Rhapsody producer Graham King, Sacha Baron Cohen was never actually attached to the film, as he explained:

Speaking at the Producers Guild Awards Nominees Breakfast (via Variety), Graham King dispelled the popular notion that Sacha Baron Cohen was attached to play Freddie Mercury. According to him, Rami Malek was the first and obviously last person to be signed on to the film. This contradicts the long-standing belief that Sacha Baron Cohen was signed on for the film prior to exiting the project.

The way Graham King described it, it sounds like there were certainly discussions with Sacha Baron Cohen, but he was never firmly attached to play Freddie Mercury in the biopic, at least not in any official capacity. He was just one of multiple actors who wanted the role that ultimately went to Rami Malek.

Considering all the reports over the years that had Sacha Baron Cohen attached to the role, perhaps it was just a case of he was presumed and expected to play Freddie Mercury and was maybe in deep discussions about the role as the project developed, but it just never got to the point where he was signed on.

Although he didn't get the role, you can see why Sacha Baron Cohen would have been an obvious choice to play Freddie Mercury. Despite his image as a comedian, the actor bears more of a resemblance to Freddie Mercury than Rami Malek -- who wound up in the role -- does.

Over the years and recently with the release of the film, there have been conflicting reasons given as to why Sacha Baron Cohen didn't play the legendary frontman in Bohemian Rhapsody. Sacha Baron Cohen seemed to have had a much different vision for the film, one that was R-rated and dug more into Freddie's rockstar lifestyle, whereas the members of Queen wanted a fun movie that was more for everyone and was respectful of the singer's legacy. Recently Queen drummer Roger Taylor said Cohen "didn't take Freddie seriously enough."

I thought those creative differences led to Sacha Baron Cohen's departure, but given what Graham King said, it seems that the differences just led to him dropping out of the running or being ruled out by the filmmakers. As Graham King said, Sacha Baron Cohen isn't the only person who was rumored for the biopic over the years; in fact, Ben Whishaw and Dominic Cooper were also discussed in relation to playing Freddie.

All that said, it's hard to wonder what might have been with Sacha Baron Cohen or a different actor because Rami Malek turned in an incredible performance as Freddie Mercury, good enough to win him a Golden Globe and perhaps net him an Oscar nomination.

The crowd-pleasing film also won a Golden Globe for Best Picture-Drama and has been a worldwide box office smash hit. So things turned out for the best, even if critics were less thrilled with the film than audiences and may have preferred Cohen's less safe version.

Bohemian Rhapsody is still playing in theaters. Check out our release schedule for all of the biggest movies heading to theaters this year.

Rami Malek plays Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the new film Bohemian Rhapsody but the role was originally going to go to somebody else. Years ago, when the film was first entering development, Sacha Baron Cohen was attached to star as the lead singer, but recently Queen drummer Roger Taylor explained why Cohen left the project. Taylor says the actor, known primarily for comedy, didn't take the film, or the role, seriously. According to Taylor...

Looking back, it was about eight years ago when it was first announced that Sacha Baron Cohen would portray Freddie Mercury in a biopic about the band Queen. It was then about five years ago that it was announced that Cohen had left the project.

Unfortunately, Roger Taylor doesn't elaborate on his statement, so it's difficult to understand what is meant by it. It's certainly true that Sacha Baron Cohen is best known for comedic roles, so perhaps the actor was planning on playing Mercury in some sort of humorous way. Freddie Mercury was certainly flamboyant and over-the-top as far as his stage persona goes, so one could see how something like that might work.

It could also be that Cohen just didn't give the movie much attention, and that was seen as not taking it seriously. Though that could simply be because the film clearly wasn't that far along. The fact that it would take half a decade from the point Sacha Baron Cohen left the project for the movie to actually make it on the screen, in addition to the three years he was attached, shows that a lot of work needed to be done.

Roger Taylor tells the Associated Press that having Cohen take the Mercury role "was never really on." This is probably because the film was in such an obviously early state that nobody had actually signed any contracts. Cohen may have expressed interest and the producers may have been interested in getting him, but there wasn't enough set in stone for it to be more than that.

And based on what Sacha Baron Cohen has said, that sounds like it may have been the case. The actor had previously stated that one of his issues with the movie was that, in the story he was given, Freddie Mercury died in the middle of the film and the rest of the story focused on how the band handled the aftermath. That's not the story of Bohemian Rhapsody, so clearly things changed over the years.

After Sacha Baron Cohen left the project, Ben Whishaw was tapped to play Freddie Mercury, though he eventually left the project as well to make room for Rami Malek, who plays the Queen lead singer in the new film.

Bohemian Rhapsody hits theaters November 2.

Sacha Baron Cohen made a divisive return to television this month with the premiere of Who Is America? on Showtime. The show features Baron Cohen portraying characters and then going out into the real world to interact with and interview real people, including some famous faces. He's so convincing in his characters that some of the people he talked to had no idea that a comedian was underneath the wigs and makeup, and not all of his subjects were happy about it. Some folks on social media have condemned the show due to how Baron Cohen allegedly presented himself, but Showtime isn't just going to take the criticism. The network released a statement after reactions to his interviews with Sarah Palin and Bernie Sanders:

During Sacha Baron Cohen's interview with Bernie Sanders -- yes, the real Bernie Sanders -- as the character "Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr.," Baron Cohen sat in a mobilized scooter, which led some to believe that he was presenting himself as a disabled person. The first episode that aired on July 15 clarified that Billy Wayne Ruddick used a scooter to conserve energy rather than because of any disability, although it's possible that the episode didn't reach enough people to quell any fury that broke out due to early footage and/or what has been posted on social media. Baron Cohen wasn't entirely honest in his interview with Bernie Sanders, but he didn't mislead Sanders that he was disabled, and Showtime wanted to make sure everybody understands that distinction.

The bad rap Sacha Baron Cohen got for allegedly presenting himself as an American veteran is due to Sarah Palin. She was one of the high-profile subjects interviewed by one of Baron Cohen's characters, and she did not take kindly to the reveal that the person she interacted with was actually a persona invented by somebody in showbiz. Palin took to Facebook to share her thoughts, claiming that he "heavily disguised himself as a disabled US veteran, fake wheelchair and all."

According to Showtime, at no point did Sacha Baron Cohen claim to be a U.S. military veteran during his interactions with Sarah Palin, nor was he named as a veteran when the interview with Palin was being booked. The network also takes issue with Palin's statement that he conducted the interview from a "fake wheelchair," stating that he did not appear in the wheelchair and he did not wear any kind of military uniform. Palin didn't hold back in condemning Baron Cohen's behavior; Showtime disputes that everything went as Palin claimed on Facebook.

To see Sacha Baron Cohen in action in various characters, tune in to new episodes of Who Is America? on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. If you're looking for some other viewing options, check out our summer TV premiere guide.

For well over a decade now, Sacha Baron Cohen has been a master of disguise, taking on different kinds of characters to get reactions out of people, whether those be average citizens or people in power. We recently learned he has a new seven-episode series coming called Who Is America? The Showtime subscription cable program was able to keep Cohen's new character a secret and even speak with the likes of Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin, and the latter at least is very unhappy about the way things transpired. Speaking out on social media, Palin admitted she and her daughter "were duped," before explaining from her point of view what she thought was going on.

Elsewhere in the rant on Facebook, Sarah Palin also called Sacha Baron Cohen, "evil" and "exploitive," also noting she feels he has a "sick" sense of humor, before also challenging the British comedian to donate all proceeds from the upcoming Showtime series.

She closes out by noting her daughter thinks the former host of Da Ali G Show is a "piece of **," so clearly she and her daughter are not happy about being duped by a TV show.

Sarah Palin isn't the only major political figure who spoke with Sacha Baron Cohen for Who Is America? Teaser footage has already been released featuring Dick Cheney, and Matt Drudge noted Howard Dean, Alberto Gonzales, Bernie Sanders, Trent Lott, Patraeus, Ted Koppel were spoken to, as well. You can take a first look at the new series, below.

Who Is America? was announced out of the blue earlier this week, and Showtime won't be waiting long to release the new series. If you subscribe to the cabler and are interested in Sacha Baron Cohen's body of work, the new series will debut this weekend on Sunday, July 15 at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime. The return to TV marks the first time Sacha Baron Cohen has done a subscription cable project in years, although the actor has a new Netflix project called The Spy _coming soon, as well. Cohen is famous for kicking off his career with _Da Ali G Show but has subsequently brought characters to life on the big screen with Borat and The Dictator, among other projects.