Sacha Baron Cohen has admitted that Borat may never return after he was hunted by a pro-gun mob.
The 53-year-old actor starred as the Kazakhstani journalist in the 2006 satirical comedy and its sequel “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” though he has now said the character may be rested for good after he was forced to flee an enraged pro-gun "militia" in Washington State during filming for the 2020 follow-up flick.
Appearing on the “SmartLess” podcast, “The Dictator” star explained: "The last one became so extreme. After that gun rally, I was essentially on the run.
"I had a militia kind of following me. I was going from safe house to safe house for about four days. It becomes so crazy that you realise there's a certain amount of skill and preparation, but also you're going to be lucky. And at some point, your luck runs out."
Baron Cohen said the experience had left him so shaken that he didn’t want to reprise the role out of concerns for his well being.
He continued: "I think the danger element meant I just didn't want to do it again. I felt I had to do it for that election. I had to do it. I was terrified about what's going to happen."
The “Bruno” actor, who starred in the sequel alongside “The Apprentice” actress Maria Bakalova, previously admitted he "feared for his life" after he narrowly escaped the far-right rally.
In an article for “TIME”, he wrote: "While filming my latest ‘Borat’ film, I showed up as a right-wing singer at a gun-rights rally in Washington State.
"When organisers finally stormed the stage, I rushed to a nearby get-away vehicle. An angry crowd blocked our way and started pounding on the vehicle with their fists."
The “Ali G Indahouse” icon explained he wore "a bullet-proof vest" over his suit, but conceded "it felt inadequate with some people outside toting semi-automatic weapons."
He added: "When someone ripped open the door to drag me out, I used my entire body weight to pull the door back shut until our vehicle manoeuvred free."