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A ‘Borat’ reunion on Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Dictator’?

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EXCLUSIVE: Director Larry Charles made comedy magic with Sacha Baron Cohen on ‘Borat,’ then followed it up with 2009’s ‘Bruno.’ Now he could be going for the trifecta.


A source who has been briefed on ‘The Dictator,’ as the film is known in Hollywood, say that Charles (that’s him to the left, looking unusually holy) will take the director’s chair on the film. The source’s information was echoed by a person familiar with Charles’ plans.

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The news comes after reports when the film first came together that said Charles would not be joining the production. Those briefed on ‘The Dictator’ say it will be Baron Cohen’s next movie, after he completes shooting ‘Hugo Cabret’ with director Martin Scorsese.

There’s a certain logic to bringing the ‘Bruno’ and ‘Borat’ filmmaker back for this film, which like those has a stranger-in-a-strange-land leitmotif. The idea for the film, as Baron Cohen fans know well, is about the parallel stories of a goat herder and deposed foreign dictator who gets lost in this country.

A Paramount spokeswoman declined to comment.

Before he made the jump to film, Charles was known for writing some of the more classic ‘Seinfeld’ episodes. He was also a veteran of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and with this film would be reunited with some of the lead writers from that show. So expect plenty of Larry David-style absurdity too.

— Steven Zeitchik

twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

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