Well, the rumors are true and legit—though still no word on the oversized title. “Borat 2,” which was shot in secret— and fast—this year by Sacha Baron Cohen is done and not only that, already has a distributor. Amazon Studios has bought the film and—uhh, in a move that the politically-minded Sacha Baron Cohen thinks will help change the course of the election (??)—the film is being fast-tracked for a release before Election Day 2020. This fast-tracking before Tuesday, November 3 had been rumored online as well, so kudos to those reading the online forums.
READ MORE: Sacha Baron Cohen Reportedly Filmed ‘Borat 2’ & Is Already Screening It For Folks
A recent WGA filing—since taken down—revealed the title of the “Borat” sequel was “Borat: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan” but that’s still not confirmed. You’ll recall the original title of the film was another mouthful, “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.”
The original ‘Borat’ was directed by Larry Charles, with a story co-written by Todd Phillips. It’s unclear, however, who directed this (though it sort of sounds like Baron Cohen himself), and what, if any involvement, these two former collaborators have in it.
READ MORE: Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ridiculously Long ‘Borat 2’ Title Reportedly Revealed
Wikipedia, already has an extensive ‘Borat 2’ page with a host of writers attached, presumably found on the now missing WGA filing, plus it’s filled with details. Deadline says “Baron Cohen and cohorts flew to various parts of the U.S. and internationally to shoot the film” and says sources told them the star “had to wear a bulletproof vest on two different shooting days and on many days, there were risky and dangerous scenarios in shooting.”
Taken from a character in Baron Cohen’s “Da Ali G” show, “Borat” was a major hit in 2006 and grossed $262.6 million worldwide. THR says, “at one point, Universal provided assistance to Cohen because of its relationship to the filmmaker, but the movie belongs to him, according to sources.” In 2007, Foxcorp Chief Rupert Murdoch announced that Baron Cohen has signed on for a sequel to the 20th Century Fox film, but a few months later the actor insisted the character was now too well known and had to be retired. Clearly, someone changed their mind in the age of Trump.
