Anyone got any good Saddam Hussein jokes?
Borat & Ali G creator Sacha Baron Cohen is to make a film version of ‘Zabibah and The King’ the best selling novel by Saddam Hussein. (no, we’ve not read it either).
Paramount Pictures today announced that Cohen will produce and star in ‘THE DICTATOR’ , which will be released worldwide on May 11th 2012. Long-time collaborator Larry Charles, who directed Cohen in Borat and Bruno is also joining the project.
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. Set in 7th or 8th century Tikrit, the book’s heroine is the titular Zabiba, a commoner who is harshly treated and raped by her evil husband. The hero is the country’s King ‘Arab, who forms a platonic but deeply felt love affair with the wise young woman.
Those expecting Bruno part two will be disappointed!
Producing alongside Baron Cohen are Scott Rudin, Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer, and David Mandel. The project marks the first collaboration for Rudin (“The Social Network,” “True Grit”) and Baron Cohen, while Berg, Schaffer and Mandel (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) join him as screenwriters on the movie. The movie is the latest collaboration between Baron Cohen and Charles, who previously worked together on “Borat” as well as “Bruno”.