A new trailer for Ali G: Who Iz I has been released, showing the titular character back for another adventure. The film is a sequel to 2002's Ali G Indahouse and marks Sacha Baron Cohen's feature directorial debut.
Ali G reflects on a changed world
In the trailer, Ali G reflects on how much the world has changed since his last appearance in 2014. “There’s been Wars. COVID. And Ed Sheeran. I’m going to get back on top with a brand new thing called a ‘documentary.’”
The movie, which was reportedly filmed in secret, features a new girlfriend character, played by comedian Morgana Robinson. It is set to be released in theatres on 23 October.
A documentary-style comeback
“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,” Baron Cohen says as Ali G.
The film’s official synopsis reads: “After 20 years spent chillin’, tokin’ and bonin’, Ali G is shocked to discover that his long-term girlfriend, Julie (Morgana Robinson), is eight 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 an Instagram post last month, the Ali G character wrote: “Dey has finally made a documentary about me. And it ain’t like dat crap one about da penguins. Dis one haz got at least twice as much animal sex. Ali G: Who Iz I? Cominatcha on 10.23 wotever dat means.”
Wimbledon appearance and character history
Days after the movie’s announcement, Baron Cohen appeared at the Wimbledon men’s final. Seated in centre court, the wannabe gangster rapper donned a white and green tracksuit with the Wimbledon logo changed to “Da Championships Wimbledon” and featured a cannabis leaf. Posting from the tournament, he said: “I iz BACK! And if u iz at dis borin wimbledore final lookin 2 get grand slammed, I iz here wif de hookup. dm me, especially if u iz fit.”
Reports that the character was making a comeback first emerged in 2023, with the project said to have faced major delays due to the writer and actor strikes in the US.
Baron Cohen created the character in 1998 as the “voice of da yoof” for Channel 4’s The 11 O’Clock Show. His popularity soon saw him gain his own Channel 4 series, before he made his silver screen debut in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse. The actor retired the character in 2007, but resurrected him in 2012 to accept Baron Cohen's Outstanding Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards. He also appeared again in 2014 in Ali G Rezurection, which saw him returning to introduce classic clips as well as previously un-aired episodes. As well as Ali G, Baron Cohen is known for creating other comedy roles such as Brüno and Borat.
