Everything We Know About ‘Ladies First’

Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike spearhead Ladies First, a new Netflix movie following a man who wakes up in a parallel world where the power dynamics of society are completely different—and women have all the power. The movie is confirmed for a May 2026 release, so let’s dive into everything we know about this high-concept satirical comedy.

Directed by Thea Sharrock (The Beautiful Game,  Me Before You), Ladies First will be one of Netflix’s biggest movie releases of spring 2026. The comedy-romance transports viewers to an alternate world uniquely different from ours due to its matriarchal society, where women possess ultimate power. When a womaniser (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) wakes up in the parallel world, he falls deeply in love with Rosamund Pike’s character, but the myriad new rules and moral codes of this new society force him to forget his former preconceptions and re-evaluate his life. The film is based on 2018 Eleonore Pourriat-directed French film I Am Not an Easy Man (Je Ne Suis Pas Un Homme Facile). 

Ladies First is adapted into a Netflix feature film by Katie Silberman (Booksmart), Natalie Krinsky (The Broken Hearts Gallery) and Cinco Paul (Schmigadoon!). Liza Chasin of 3dot Productions is producing. Chasin has a successful history of rom-coms on the streamer, working on The Life List and Lonely Planet. 

Also producing are Eleonore Dailly, Edouard de Lachomette, and Four By Two Films.

The official tagline for Ladies First reads: 

A ladies man gets a real wakeup call when he finds himself in a parallel world dominated by women where he goes head-to-head with a fiery female counterpart who makes things far more of a challenge for him.

Filming on Ladies First commenced in the United Kingdom in 2024, mostly taking place in Netflix’s hub at Shepperton Studios. It wrapped in early 2025. 

Who is in the cast of Ladies First? 

Netflix has assembled a top-tier cast for Ladies First, including many esteemed and Oscar-nominated stars. 

• Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat)
• Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)
• Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
• Emily Mortimer (Paddington in Peru)
• Charles Dance (The Crown)
• Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve)
• Tom Davis (Wonka)
• Weruche Opia (I May Destroy You)
• Kathryn Hunter (The Front Room)
• Kadiff Kirwan (Slow Horses)
• Bill Paterson (Fleabag)
• Paul Chahidi (The Death of Stalin) as Harry Guinness

First look images

Credit: GoffPhotos.com

Credit: GoffPhotos.com

Credit: GoffPhotos.com Ref: KGC-102

Credit: GoffPhotos.com 

While official marketing stills are still under wraps, several set photos have emerged showing the cast in action. Reports from the set suggest the film uses clever visual cues—such as female construction workers catcalling Sacha Baron Cohen’s character—to emphasize the flipped gender roles of this alternate London. Filming for the movie took place between November 2024 and January 2025.

When does Ladies First release on Netflix?

While a specific date hasn’t been set, Netflix has confirmed that Ladies First will debut in May 2026 during its Next on Netflix 2026 reveals. It is expected to be the streamer’s “big” late-month release, likely arriving a few weeks after the adaptation of the bestseller Remarkably Bright Creatures (starring Sally Field), which is already confirmed for May 8, 2026.

Are you excited for Ladies First? Tell us in the comments down below!