Boots Riley and Don Cheadle Discuss Creative Risks and Activist Themes in Their Collaborative Film

In a candid interview, filmmaker Boots Riley and actor Don Cheadle examined the artistic and political stakes of their joint film project. Riley framed the work as a clash between “spectacle versus organizing class struggle,” while Cheadle noted that improvisational choices “really changed the meaning of the movie.” Both described the process as deliberately crossing creative boundaries to discover “the most rich things.”

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The dialogue referenced Thomas Pynchon’s 1980s novel *Vineland* for its mix of “mad acid,” “Godzilla,” “UFOs,” and “nuns as ninjas,” and its critique of The Weather Underground as “performative activism.” Riley also cited the TV series *I’m a Virgo* and director P.T. Anderson’s decision to cast many Black characters, creating a “fantasy thing” distinct from historical Black revolutionary groups. Both expressed admiration for the novel *One Battle After Another*, noting its relevance to the film’s critique.

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Boots Riley, a politically driven director, leads the film’s vision and previously created the TV series *I’m a Virgo*. Don Cheadle, an Academy-Award-nominated actor, serves as the lead performer and collaborator.

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Riley summarized his approach: being willing to make mistakes, stepping beyond perceived limits, and then locating the line again. Cheadle echoed this, emphasizing the need to “tear off your skin suit” and acknowledging that “your skin suit gets uncomfortable.” Both agreed that improvisation reshaped the film’s thematic focus.

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The conversation critiqued The Weather Underground’s tactics as “performative activism,” contrasting them with Riley’s emphasis on “hard work and collective action” as essential to genuine organizing.

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• “Wow. You called me into your office as a secretary of state to tell me to shut the fuck up and to tell my friends to shut the fuck up.” — Don Cheadle

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• “Figuring out where the line is by stepping way over it, and then going, “Oh, okay, it’s back there somewhere,” because that’s where you find the most rich things.” — Boots Riley

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• “You have to tear off your skin suit.” — Boots Riley

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• “Cheadle: Yeah, your skin suit gets uncomfortable!” — Don Cheadle

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The interview highlights how creators balance experimental art with activist intent, using critique of performative activism to model cinema that encourages authentic collective action over spectacle.

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Riley disclosed that he has sent Cheadle a script he “hasn’t read,” indicating future collaborations. He described the unreleased script as a “secret project” that may become the next vehicle for exploring similar activist themes. Both mentioned “a lot of things lined up” that may or may not materialize, suggesting continued output grounded in the lessons from their current film experience.

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