Sacha Baron Cohen to Star in Tarantino's West End Play

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Quentin Tarantino has found his leading man for the stage. Sacha Baron Cohen will star in the title role of The Popinjay Cavalier , the first play Tarantino has written for the theatre, at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End. Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions made the announcement on Monday, October 12, the same day tickets went on sale. Tarantino will also direct. "You don't ask questions" Baron Cohen was characteristically blunt about why he signed on. "Quentin called, I said yes before he even got to say his first 'motherfxxxer'. When the best director in the world calls, you don't ask questions," he said in the producers' announcement. "I am beyond delighted that we will be losing our West End virginity together, I have made him promise not to be gentle." Tarantino kept it short: "I'm keen with anticipation to give the West End a great night out." What the play is Set in 1830s Europe, The Popinjay Cavalier is billed as "a rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen". The producers say it draws on the classic swashbuckler genre of old Hollywood, including the writings of George Bruce, Ernst Vajda and Jesse Lasky Jr. Key facts Venue: Phoenix Theatre, London Previews: from February 23, 2027 Opening night: March 18, 2027 Booking until: June 13, 2027 Tickets: from £25, with more than 16,000 under £50 across the run Producers: Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sonia Friedman Productions The BBC notes that Sony distributed Tarantino's most recent film, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood , while Sonia Friedman Productions has overseen hits such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Paddington the Musical . The creative team Who's behind it Scenic and costume design: Tom Pye Lighting: Natasha Chivers Sound: Ian Dickinson Fight director: Philip d'Orleans Action co-ordinator: Sam Lyon-Behan Music: Tim Phillips Casting: Jim Carnahan Associate director: Jack Bradfield The rest of the cast will be announced later. Tom Rothman, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment's Motion Picture Group, and Sonia Friedman said in a joint statement: "To see Quentin in action in a rehearsal room is extraordinary. His delight in working with actors, fencers, acrobats, musicians and our creative team is infectious." They called Baron Cohen "a fearless, brilliantly inventive actor with the wit, mischief and daring this role demands". Tarantino's next move The director, best known for Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs , has repeatedly said he plans to retire from movies after ten films. The BBC says he has made nine so far, counting both Kill Bill volumes as one, and has won two Oscars, for writing Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained . He revealed the stage plan last summer on the Church of Tarantino podcast, saying it was "all written". "It is absolutely the next thing I'm going to do," he said. "It's probably going to take up a year and a half to two years of my life, if it's a success and I've got to do the tour version of it and all that. I'm preparing for it to be a success. If it's a flop, I'll be done very quickly." Baron Cohen's career Baron Cohen, 54, made his name with comic characters including Ali G, Kazakh reporter Borat Sagdiyev and Austrian fashionista Brüno Gehard. The BBC says he has won two Baftas and three Golden Globes, and has been nominated for three Oscars and six Emmys. This will be his West End debut. London's UK screen and stage calendar is already busy this autumn, with the 70th BFI London Film Festival under way. A Tarantino premiere adds a major event to the 2027 theatre season. What's next Tickets are on sale now. Previews begin on February 23, 2027, with opening night on March 18. Full casting is still to come, and we will update this story when the rest of the company is announced. Sources: Sonia Friedman Productions | BBC News