Topline
Amazon Studios has acquired the rights to the sequel to 2006's hit film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, according to Deadline, with its worldwide release set for late October on Amazon Prime, right before the November presidential election between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
Borat signs copies of his new books Touristic Guidings to Minor Nation of U.S. and A, and Touristic ... [+]
Key Facts
The existence of a sequel, reportedly titled Borat: Gift of Pornographic Monkey to Vice Premiere Mikhael Pence to Make Benefit Recently Diminished Nation of Kazakhstan, leaked this month, making it the first major film to be made and released during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The film will likely feature President Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani — he called the NYPD on the film's star Sacha Baron Cohen after an interview in July — but the site Film Stage also reports Vice President Mike Pence makes a cameo, as well as an unnamed politician who may see their career end due to the film.
Film Stage also reports the film will focus on the Covid-19 pandemic and Trump's relationship with late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The original Borat became a cultural phenomenon when it was released in 2006, with its interviews with unsuspecting Americans that satirize the country.
Baron Cohen in 2018 created the Showtime series Who Is America? — Georgia Republican lawmaker Jason Spencer resigned after appearing on the show, where he was convinced to scream the n-word, along with other offensive actions.
As he has in other films like the Borat follow up Brüno, Baron Cohen reportedly put himself in danger while filming, wearing a bulletproof vest during two different days of shooting, according to Deadline.
Tangent
Baron Cohen in recent years has called out Facebook and other social media sites over their reluctance to monitor and regulate content appearing on their platforms. "If Facebook were around in the 1930s, it would have allowed Hitler to post 30-second ads on his 'solution' to the 'Jewish problem.'"
Big Number
On a budget of $18 million, the original Borat grossed $262.5 million worldwide. The film was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.
