Ali G is back, but Sacha Baron Cohen says it’s the last time

Sacha Baron Cohen says guerrilla comedy has become too risky

The actor is bringing Ali G back to the screen in Ali G: Who Iz I?, but says the upcoming project will mark his final venture into guerrilla comedy. 

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Cohen warned that the response to the new film could be even more hostile than the backlash he has experienced in the past.

Cohen has announced his retirement from one of his best-known characters before, only to return years later. 

He previously said Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, released in 2020, would be his last appearance as the fictional Kazakh journalist. 

The film earned two Oscar nominations, and Cohen reiterated that he was finished with the character following its release.

'I'm terrified of where our society is headed'

Now, Ali G is back, although Cohen appears less keen to repeat the same approach in future projects.

Much of his comedy involves deceiving people into revealing their attitudes on camera, often exposing prejudice and uncomfortable beliefs in the process. 

However, the comedian told the magazine that he has grown tired of the hostility that comes with it, including death threats he has received since the Borat films.

Despite that, he still sees comedy as a way to confront the political and social problems he is concerned about.

“Because I'm terrified of where our society is headed, and the way I can comment on that is through my comedy,” he said. “I wanted to show the extremism on both sides of the political spectrum and the danger of virtuous violence.”

Ali G is making his return to cinemas on October 23, before arriving on Amazon Prime Video shortly afterwards.