“Sorry To Bother You” and “I’m a Virgo” filmmaker Boots Riley has confirmed he’s adapting Anne Washburn’s 2012 Off-Broadway dark comedy “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play” into a feature film.
Back in November, a user on X said: “Theater Twitter: I’m here to let you all know that Anne Washburn dropped the announcement that Mr. Burns is being developed into a film by Boots Riley in her playbill bio for burning cauldron of fiery fire.”
Today, Riley himself confirmed the news – reposting that and adding: “This is a true thing” and that it would be a full-length movie.
The play sees the survivors of an apocalypse gather around a campfire, trying to remember and retell “The Simpsons” episode “Cape Feare”. A spoof of “Cape Fear,” that episode saw the Simpsons go into hiding as Sideshow Bob is released from prison and threatens Bart’s life.
As time goes on, other fragments of pop culture worm their way into the retelling, which lays the bedrock for a new type of performance.
Riley’s newest film “I Love Boosters” will premiere this Spring at the 2026 SXSW Film & Television Festival.
