After more than 20 years, Ali G is officially back with Ali G: Who Iz I?, a stunt documentary arriving in theaters Oct. 23. Sacha Baron Cohen reprises his famous role as the yellow-tracksuited hip-hop rapper and journalist, who heads back to America after discovering his girlfriend, Julie (Morgana Robinson), is eight months pregnant. In the trailer, Ali G can be seen up to his shocking shenanigans, pulling pranks on unsuspecting public figures in a “documentary.”
But just three days after the film’s announcement, backlash began mounting. In the U.K., a campaign is underway urging cinemas not to screen the film. Social media users have criticized Ali G’s portrayal in the trailer, which features fake dreadlocks and a Rastafarian hat, as a racist caricature.
According to Variety, media monitoring platform NewsCord launched the campaign, contacting major cinema chains worldwide on behalf of users who sign up. As of Friday, the group said it had been asked to send more than 36,000 emails. As controversy surrounding the film grows, here’s everything to know about the upcoming film.
THE PLOT
According to Amazon MGM, “Ali G is shocked to discover that his long-term girlfriend, Julie, is 8 months pregnant. Faced with an extra mouth to feed, he gets off his batty and heads to America to reclaim his former glory… but soon encounters adversaries who will ultimately threaten his and his child’s very existence.”
In the trailer, you can see the funnyman saying, “It’s me Ali G. I’ve been gone for 20 years, chilling. And in that time, the world went to crap. There’s been Wars. Covid. And Ed Sheeran. I’m going to get back on top with a brand new thing called a ‘documentary.’ For the first time ever, this is with real people not actors. For more than a year we let the cameras follow me everywhere. Nothing was off limits.”
THE CAST
Cohen stars as Ali G, while Morgana Robinson, the Australian-born British comedian and impressionist, plays his girlfriend.
WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?
Cohen also directs the film, which will be distributed by Amazon MGM.
AWARDS HISTORY
Yes, one exists. Before taking North America by storm with six Primetime Emmy nominations for HBO’s Da Ali G Show in 2003 and 2005, Cohen achieved critical acclaim for the character in his native U.K. He won the British Comedy Award for Best Male Comedy Newcomer in 1999 for The 11 O’Clock Show, where Ali G was introduced, and went on to win two BAFTAs in 2001: Best Comedy Performance for himself and Best Comedy Program or Series for Da Ali G Show. The original 2006 film Borat was nominated for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes, while Baron Cohen won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. He repeated the acting win in 2021 for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which also won Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy.
WHEN CAN I SEE IT?
The film is in theaters Oct. 23.
This article was first published on Aug. 25 and updated on Aug. 28.
