Boots Riley to Direct Film of Play Based on THE SIMPSONS

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For decades, The Simpsons have been a beloved and funny part of television history. But what if the show took a much darker turn? Director Boots Riley says his new film will do just that, reimagining a classic Simpsons episode with a more serious and unsettling tone.

This is a true thing.

— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) January 11, 2026

Riley, the director of Sorry to Bother You, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he’s making a movie based on Anne Washburn’s play, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play. He hasn’t shared many details, but fans can expect a unique and quirky take on the familiar cartoon family, given his distinctive filmmaking style.

Washburn’s play, which first appeared off-Broadway, is a darkly comedic take on a post-apocalyptic world. Set almost a hundred years after an unspecified disaster, the story centers on a group of six survivors who pass the time by recreating episodes of The Simpsons from memory. The play begins with the group retelling “Cape Feare” around a campfire. Eventually, they form a traveling theater company dedicated to performing Simpsons episodes, but their versions are surprisingly dramatic and serious.

The Simpsons episode “Cape Feare” is a humorous take on the movie Cape Fear. In it, Sideshow Bob, a former coworker of Krusty the Clown, gets out of prison and tries to get revenge on Bart for exposing his crime. To escape him, the Simpsons enter witness protection and start a new life with different names and in a new home. However, Sideshow Bob continues to pursue Bart, leading to a series of funny, unsuccessful attempts on Bart’s life before Bob is ultimately apprehended and taken into custody.

Boots Riley’s first film, Sorry to Bother You, was a hit with audiences. Now, while fans await his unique take on The Simpsons, his next project is almost here. Riley’s upcoming science fiction comedy, I Love Boosters, will premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival. The film stars Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige, and Demi Moore, and follows a group of shoplifters. I Love Boosters will be released in theaters on May 22, 2026.

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2026-01-14 03:03