Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Ladies First’ premieres May 22 on Netflix with Rosamund Pike

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• The Gender Role Reversal That Sparked Controversy and Intrigue
• Meet the Powerhouse Cast Taking Over This Comedy
• Production Details That Brought This Wild Vision to Life
• What Happens When Damien Meets His Match in a Woman’s World
• Will This Controversial Premise Change How You Think About Gender and Power
  • Sources

Sacha Baron Cohen’s gender-swapped comedy Ladies First premieres tomorrow on Netflix, flipping the script in a hilarious parallel world. The 54-year-old actor stars opposite Rosamund Pike in this satirical tale where women dominate every boardroom and street. Watch two Oscar nominees clash in a 1 hour 33 minute comedy that explores power, identity, and what happens when everything gets reversed.

The Gender Role Reversal That Sparked Controversy and Intrigue

Ladies First is loosely inspired by the 2018 French film I Am Not an Easy Man. Director Thea Sharrock adapted the screenplay with writers Natalie Krinsky, Cinco Paul, and Katie Silberman. The premise flips traditional power dynamics in a darkly comedic way. Sacha Baron Cohen plays Damien Sachs, a high-powered advertising executive obsessed with money, power, and conquest.

His world shatters when he awakens in an alternate reality. Women now occupy every position of authority and exhibit all the behaviors men once monopolized—from boardroom aggression to casual objectification. It’s a sharp social commentary wrapped in laughs.

Meet the Powerhouse Cast Taking Over This Comedy

The film boasts an incredible ensemble cast beyond its two leads. Richard E. Grant, Emily Mortimer, Charles Dance, and Fiona Shaw join the supporting roles. Tom Davis, known for Wonka and Paddington 2, adds comedic spark. Weruche Opia from I May Destroy You rounds out the diverse ensemble. Each actor brings gravitas and humor to a film exploring gender, power, and identity.

The chemistry between Cohen and Pike drives the narrative forward in unexpected ways. Their performances promise both tender moments and unhinged comedy.

Production Details That Brought This Wild Vision to Life

Detail	Information
Release Date	May 22, 2026
Platform	Netflix
Runtime	1 hour 33 minutes
Director	Thea Sharrock

Filming took place at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England starting in November 2024. Production wrapped in January 2025. The crew also shot scenes in Hampstead, London. This careful production design grounds the satirical premise in recognizable British settings, making the gender-reversed world feel both fantastical and uncomfortably real.

Producers Liza Chasin, Eleonore Dailly, and Edouard de Lachomette helmed the project. Netflix’s partnership with 3dot Productions and Four By Two Films brought significant resources to the vision.

“With the rules of engagement changed and Alex at the top of her game, the two boldly battle it out in a comedy about what happens when the script is flipped.”

— Official Netflix Synopsis

What Happens When Damien Meets His Match in a Woman’s World

The plot follows high-powered advertising executive Damien Sachs as he navigates corporate chaos from the bottom. His former employee Alex Fox, played with fierce intensity by Rosamund Pike, now leads the company. What was once his domain becomes his nightmare. Women in this reality cat-call men, display crude behavior, and treat the opposite gender with shocking disregard.

Damien’s journey involves humbling realizations and unexpected growth. As he climbs back from obscurity, he begins understanding a world he once took for granted. The comedy emerges from his discomfort, bewilderment, and gradual transformation.

Will This Controversial Premise Change How You Think About Gender and Power

The film tackles difficult themes through satire and absurdity. By reversing gender roles completely, it forces viewers to examine their own assumptions about workplace dynamics, sexuality, and identity. Some viewers will find the approach hilarious and enlightening. Others might question whether role reversal truly addresses systemic issues or simply inverts them.

The documentary-style trailer shows Damien walking into a pole moments before his transformation. This slapstick beginning sets the comedic tone. The film balances sharp social commentary with genuine laughs. It asks pivotal questions without pretending to have all the answers, letting audiences draw their own conclusions about gender, power, and human nature in a deliberately flipped society.

Sources

• Netflix Tudum – Official release information and cast details about Ladies First
• Wikipedia – Production history, filming locations, and creative team information
• People Magazine – Trailer breakdown and character descriptions from industry experts