Baron Cohen to Star in Tarantino's West End 'Popinjay Cavalier' — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Sacha Baron Cohen will reportedly star as the swashbuckling title character in Quentin Tarantino's first play, The Popinjay Cavalier, which Tarantino will also direct, according to Deadline
- The Popinjay Cavalier, billed as a 'rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise' set in 1830s Europe, is presented by Sonia Friedman Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment with a planned early 2027 West End opening
- Tarantino said he would relocate from Tel Aviv to England with his family for the project, estimating it would consume 18 to 24 months of his life
- Sonia Friedman told the Sunday Times in July that Tarantino is 'very theatre literate' and prioritizes the audience experience, wanting to deliver 'the best freaking night out in the theatre they've had all year'
- Baron Cohen has never held a leading role in a major stage production, though he trained under French clown Philippe Gaulier, who died earlier this year; he told the Guardian that without Gaulier 'I'd probably be doing something terribly sensible'
- Tarantino originally cast Baron Cohen in a small role in the 2012 western Django Unchained, but the actor withdrew to take the lead in Tom Hooper's film version of Les Misérables
- Publicists for both Baron Cohen and The Popinjay Cavalier declined to confirm the casting when contacted
Why it matters: This would mark Baron Cohen's first major stage lead after a screen-comedy career built on characters like Ali G and Borat, pairing him with Tarantino 15 years after Baron Cohen exited *Django Unchained* for *Les Misérables*. Tarantino is staking 18-24 months on live theatre after his film career — a rare bet from a director with no prior playwriting credit.
Ask SkimNews
