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Ben Kingsley, Anna Faris Looking to Join Baren Cohen in “The Dictator”

Sir Ben Kingsley is one of the most revered actors in the industry. As such, he usually concerns himself with more dramatic fare, but he's been known to let loose from time to time as he did with Disney’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time just last year.

Now he’s looking to exercise his funny bone alongside Sacha Baron Cohen. Variety reports that Kingsley has signed on to star in The Dictator, Cohen’s upcoming satire said to be based on Saddam Hussein. Additionally, Deadline relays that Anna Faris is negotiating to play “the owner of an organic food store.”

Kristen Wiig and Gillian Jacobs (TV’s Community) were also in contention to play this character not too long ago. The role apparently requires expert skills in improvisation and Faris goes above and beyond to make audiences laugh. She can even pull of the difficult deed when the material itself isn’t so funny. Now that she may have finally found a film fitting of her unique comedic talents, let’s hope that negotiations go through as planned.

The Dictator will be directed by Cohen's Borat and Bruno collaborator Larry Charles. Cohen is expected to play two characters in the film, which has many people wondering about its connection to the Charlie Chaplin classic The Great Dictator. The current plot summary reads as follows: "
The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed."

Do you think this next SBC comedy looks to be another hit?

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