Sacha Baron Cohen revives Ali G to challenge political extremes

“I am afraid of where our society is heading, and the only way I can express myself is through my comedy,” Sacha Baron Cohen told The Hollywood Reporter as he revived his iconic character Ali G for a new satirical film titled Ali G: Who Iz I?.

The 55-year-old comedian brought back the controversial persona to spotlight what he views as escalating radicalization across modern culture. In a recent essay for Time magazine, Cohen explained that the world Ali G re-enters after 20 years has deteriorated significantly. He criticized social media as the largest propaganda machine in history and pointed to its modern counterpart, artificial intelligence, as a primary engine amplifying old prejudices.

Targeting Both Sides of the Political Spectrum in Ali G: Who Iz I?

Alongside co-star Morgana Robinson, Cohen designed his latest comedy project to challenge political extremes on both ends. According to comments provided to The Hollywood Reporter, the film aims to expose the dangers of self-righteous violence that have increasingly permeated public discourse.

Dan Mazer, Cohen’s longtime friend who co-wrote the screenplay, praised the actor’s unmatched talent in their specific genre of filmmaking. Mazer drew a parallel to basketball legend Michael Jordan, noting that while Jordan was competent at baseball, he was not the Michael Jordan of that sport; Cohen, however, remains peerless in his comedic domain.

From Subconscious Bias to Mainstream Prejudice

Reflecting on the evolution of societal attitudes, Cohen observed in his Time essay that discriminatory views have now settled comfortably into the mainstream. When he first developed his character Borat, extracting subconscious racism from individuals required only a few minutes and drinks. Today, Cohen argued, those same hateful ideologies have become openly socially acceptable.

To ground his critique, Cohen highlighted concrete public instances: soccer fans hurling racial abuse at Black players during the World Cup, and hundreds of white nationalists marching through Washington, D.C., on the Fourth of July.

Cohen Reunites with Mazer for New Ali G Production

The development of Ali G: Who Iz I? reunites Cohen with Mazer. While acknowledging that the Ali G character is inherently dated and problematic, Cohen maintained that this very friction makes the persona necessary for diagnosing current cultural ailments.

Amazon MGM Studios hosted the premiere of the production team’s recent slate, bringing renewed attention to Cohen’s satirical methodology as Ali G: Who Iz I? prepares for release.