In a move that promises to blend surreal satire with pop culture mythology, acclaimed filmmaker and musician Boots Riley has officially confirmed he will direct a feature film adaptation of the cult stage play 'Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play' by Anne Washburn.
From Stage to Screen: A Surreal Vision Confirmed
The news first surfaced subtly in a Playbill biography update in January 2026 before Riley himself took to social media platform X to verify the project. His confirmation was characteristically succinct, stating simply: 'This is a true thing.' This marks Riley's next major directorial effort following his critically acclaimed works, the anti-capitalist corporate horror 'Sorry to Bother You' and the surreal superhero satire 'I'm a Virgo'.
The premise of Washburn's play is deceptively simple yet profoundly inventive. It opens in a post-apocalyptic clearing where a small group of survivors huddle together, attempting to piece together from collective memory a single episode of the animated television institution, 'The Simpsons'. The episode in question is the beloved classic from season five, 'Cape Feare', famous for Sideshow Bob's relentless, rake-stepping pursuit of Bart Simpson.
The Evolution of a Pop Culture Myth
As 'Mr. Burns' progresses across decades, the survivors' fragmented recollections of the cartoon undergo a remarkable transformation. What begins as a shaky campfire retelling gradually morphs into a ramshackle theatrical performance traded between groups. Ultimately, as a semblance of civilisation slowly rebuilds, the episode evolves into a form of cultural scripture or musical myth.
By the final act, the original plot is only faintly recognisable, now heavily laden with new meanings and themes reflecting the survivors' struggles with power, fear, and greed. The play has long fascinated theatre-makers for its central thesis: it explores how mass entertainment and pop culture endure as folklore once the infrastructure of modernity—electricity, streaming services, and copyright law—has crumbled.
A Perfect Match of Creator and Material
This exploration of how narratives are commodified, distorted, and repurposed aligns perfectly with Boots Riley's established artistic fascinations. His previous work consistently interrogates the weaponisation and manipulation of stories within capitalist and social frameworks. Translating Washburn's structurally daring, time-hopping play to the cinema presents a unique challenge, and details on Riley's specific approach or the extent of official Simpsons imagery remain under wraps.
The original 'Cape Feare' episode, directed by Rich Moore and written by Jon Vitti, is widely considered one of the series' finest achievements. Its legacy, from Kelsey Grammer's iconic vocal performance to the timeless physical comedy of the rake sequence, now forms the unlikely bedrock for what is poised to be one of the most unconventional and intellectually provocative film adaptations of the decade.
