Sacha Baron Cohen Cast As Saddam Hussein in ‘The Dictator’

Sacha Baren Cohen, the funny man and character actor behind ‘Borat’ and ‘Bruno,’ is gearing up to play his most political role to date. The actor will be playing the role of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in an upcoming film titled ‘The Dictator.’

Cohen is set to star in a comedy inspired by a book thought to be written by Hussein titled ‘Zabibah and the King,’ BBC reports. The book was a best-seller in Iraq back in 2000.

Paramount Pictures joked that the film would “tell the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.” Writers Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer and David Mandel, who all work for ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ have been signed on to write the script. Why do I find this so disgusting?

‘The Dictator’ is scheduled to be released in theaters May 11, 2012. It will be directed by Larry Charles, who has worked with Cohen on both ‘Bruno’ and ‘Borat.’

Cohen will also be playing the role of Freddie Mercury in a ‘Queen’ biopic.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Sacha Baron Cohen Cast As Saddam Hussein in ‘The Dictator’

ADVERTISERS

TOPICS

AFFILIATIONS