Gillian Jacobs Also In Contention; Jason Mantzoukas In Negotiations For Sidekick Role
With Sacha Baron Cohen‘s next new character comedy “The Dictator” due into theaters a year from now, guess they better get around to casting it right? Well, a trio of very funny ladies are leading the pack to star opposite Cohen in the film.
THR reports that Kristen Wiig, Anna Faris, and “Community” star Gillian Jacobs are all in the mix for the female lead role in the film that promises to be right in the usual hilarious, outrageous wheelhouse that Cohen is known for. Previously described as a cross between “Coming to America” and “Trading Places”it will find Cohen playing both a goat herder and a deposed foreign dictator who gets lost in the United States. Earlier this year, the film got a new, amusing logline that read: “The film tells the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. It is inspired by the best selling novel, ‘Zabibah and The King,’ by Saddam Hussein.” Amazing.
Of course, the exact nature of the role the actresses are going for is not known but given the nature of Cohen’s work, improvisational skills are required and while all three are definitely talented, we think Wiig might have the edge here. Meanwhile, Jason Mantzoukas — who recently played the perfume impresario Dennis Feinstein on “Parks And Recreation” — is in negotiations to play a sidekick to Cohen’s character.
We’re digging the premise and so far, they’re reaching out to some funny folk so expectations are high. Filming starts next month with “Bruno” and “Borat” director Larry Charles behind the camera. It will hit theaters on May 11, 2012.
