Sacha Baron Cohen Returns as Ali G in 'Who Iz I?', Vows It's His Last Guerrilla Comedy

Sacha Baron Cohen's new film, Ali G: Who Iz I?, opens in theaters on Oct. 23 before streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The comedian insists it will be his final guerrilla comedy, though he has made similar claims before, including ahead of the 2020 Borat sequel that earned two Oscar nominations. Baron Cohen says he returned because he is 'terrified of where our society is headed' and wants to comment on extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. The film, which features Ali G as an imbecilic white rapper and a progressive nemesis also played by Baron Cohen, has already sparked a boycott campaign and accusations of cultural appropriation. Some in his camp speculate the backlash is a coordinated attack by pro-Palestinian critics over his past support of Israel. Amazon MGM Studios' Courtenay Valenti defends Baron Cohen as a fearless storyteller. The production faced multiple shutdowns, a change of studios from Universal to Amazon, and a final scene that was an eight-hour continuous shot across 12 locations. Baron Cohen personally lost $3 million when that scene was shut down due to a fire. He also discusses his upcoming West End debut in a Quentin Tarantino play and reflects on the Ali G character's origins and controversies.