Jan 2 2008Sacha Baron Cohen To Play Abbie Hoffman
The road to becoming a well-respected actor can be a long and difficult one. Many actors, now considered veteran thespians, began their careers in off-Broadway shows and small independent productions, and many had to spend years taking roles in commercials and soap operas before finding legitimacy. However, others--Sacha Baron Cohen, for instance--take the easier route: film a series of semi-offensive pranks until Tim Burton and Steven Spielberg start casting you in things.
Times Online is reporting that Cohen, the comedian responsible for Borat impressions, will follow-up his part in Sweeney Todd with a role as political activist Abbie Hoffman in Spielberg's The Trial of the Chicago Seven.
Honestly, I think he'll be a good fit for the part, and probably has the acting ability to pull it off. I'm just unreasonably annoyed that Spielberg is suddenly replacing his established mainstays with hip, up-and-coming actors of today (like adding Shia LaBeouf to Indiana Jones). Did someone get him a subscription to People or what?
No more jokes as Borat turns war protester [Times Online]
Reader Comments
1. x - January 2, 2008 9:17 PM
I could be wrong, but isn't Brett Morgen's "Chicago 10" (http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/chicago10/) about the same thing? I guess this is one of those Armageddon/Deep Impact and Capote/Infamous things.
2. 2by2 - January 3, 2008 10:17 AM
They only thing about Shia and Sasha is that they're both unapologetic Jews. And that, brings a tear to Spielberg's eyes. Nothing more, nothing less.
3. borat - January 4, 2008 3:25 PM
HIGH FIVE!
4. my comment - January 5, 2008 3:51 PM
He'll be perfect. I'll definitely see it when it comes out.
5. Looloo - January 6, 2008 9:30 PM
To be fair, he did put in the hard yards as a comedian and tv presenter in the UK for years and years. His success in the US may be recent, but he's a total veteran. Just sayin'.
6. no, no I don't know what this box is for - May 14, 2008 7:49 PM
I'll only see that if his pants are as tight as in Sweeney