Sacha Baron Cohen’s 9 hours of sword fighting training
The creative sparks between Quentin Tarantino and Sacha Baron Cohen are hotter than any sword fight they might stage. The celebrated director is currently deep into a passion project—a swashbuckling stage play titled The Popinjay Cavalier—which will bring Cohen’s unique energy to the stage.
This ambitious theatrical venture is not just a collaboration; it’s the culmination of two decades of shared creative history. When speaking about the partnership, Cohen revealed that the bond extends far beyond the rehearsal room, tracing back to projects like Borat and the making of Django Unchained. Their history is rich with shared cinematic experiences and ambitious scripts.
Cohen shared how much Tarantino’s involvement inspires him. He explained that when a director like Tarantino suggests a project, he readily agrees, recognizing it as a vital lesson in filmmaking. “And so if Quentin comes along and says, ‘I want to do a play,’ I say yes. Then I actually read the play and I thought it was fantastic. And I felt, why not?”
This philosophy underscores the depth of their working relationship. Cohen noted that the collaboration has been a long-standing pursuit, built on mutual respect for storytelling. While working on the play, the actor is currently honing his skills, dedicating nine hours a week to sword-fighting training.
Though he has only seen a little of the play so far, the collaboration itself is the main event. The Popinjay Cavalier is slated to be a sweeping celebration of theatre and heightened romance, told with Tarantino’s unmistakable wit and signature style.
The story is set in the 1830s European landscape and is being produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The production is scheduled to debut at London’s Phoenix Theatre in February 2027.
Meanwhile, Tarantino is busy navigating his own creative landscape. He has written a script he is very fond of, but he is prioritizing the work on the play and finding time for family before diving back into the writing process. For now, the focus is on bringing this epic stage adventure to life.
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