Anna Faris, Gillian Jacobs and Kristen Wiig are said to comprise the short list of actresses up for the female lead in The Dictator, the upcoming film from the Bruno and Borat pair of Larry Charles and Sacha Baron Cohen. The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop, also adding that Jason Mantzoukas is in talks for a role.
The comedy, said to be also aiming for heavy improvisation, is inspired by Saddam Hussein’s novel “Zabibah and the King” and will feature Cohen as both a goat-herder and an oppressive dictator.
Faris most recently appeared in Take Me Home Tonight and Yogi Bear. Jacobs, meanwhile, appears regularly on NBC’s “Community” and has also been in feature films like The Box and Choke while Wiig starred in Universal’s Paul earlier this year and will soon headline the studio’s Bridesmaids.
Mantzoukas’ potential role is said to be that of the titular dictator’s assistant. The actor is best known for guest-starring on television shows like “The League” and “Parks and Recreation.”
The Dictator is expected to begin production shortly and scheduled to hit theaters on May 11, 2012.
