Mo Gilligan is heading to Netflix with Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy, a new feature documentary about the global fried chicken industry. The documentary will launch on Netflix on 5 August, marking Gilligan’s first documentary for the streamer. Produced by Mindhouse, the company behind Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, the film sees the comedian investigating our obsession with fried chicken and the hidden costs behind one of the world’s biggest fast food cravings.
As part of the documentary, Gilligan puts his body to the test by eating fried chicken three times a day for 28 days. Across the month, he travels from South London to the United States to explore the history of fried chicken, the fast food chains built around it and the large-scale farming systems behind mass consumption.
The film will also examine the industry’s impact on health and the planet, while asking bigger questions about our food choices. As a Black British comedian, Gilligan will also examine the stereotypes associated with fried chicken, as well as how the dish has been culturally appropriated and marketed.
Netflix describes the documentary as an eye-opening journey that encourages Gilligan to reckon with the realities behind his favourite takeaway. The setup may have a clear Super Size Me-style hook, but Big Chicken also looks set to dig into food culture, race, advertising and the systems behind what ends up on our plate.
For CultureCues, this sounds like an interesting one for Netflix, and Mo Gilligan is a strong reason to watch. He feels like the right person to bring humour to the subject, while still digging into the bigger reality behind our fast food habits. We will be watching, possibly with a takeaway and several questions.
Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy launches on Netflix on 5 August.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.