Robert Reich, the former US Labor Secretary who has become a prominent documentary executive producer, is behind a new film called "The Work in Progress," directed by Ian Cheney. The documentary aims to tackle political polarisation in the United States by bringing together strangers to hold genuine, face-to-face conversations, a timely subject given deepening cultural, political and generational divides in the country. It follows Reich's involvement in "The Last Class," a 2025 documentary that became one of the top-grossing nonfiction films of the year, taking more than $1 million at the box office.

Filmed over six months, "The Work in Progress" features more than 100 Americans across seven states engaging in candid conversations guided by questions from Reich about the state of the country. It is produced by Elliot Kirschner, Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse and Meredith DeSalazar, and will be released by Abramorama in partnership with Wicked Delicate Films, CoffeeKlatch Productions and Inequality Media. The film opens theatrically on 4 September at the Quad in New York City, followed by screenings later that month in Berkeley and Sebastopol, California, with further locations expected; it is also being positioned as a potential Oscar contender.