BREAKING: Sacha Baron Cohen and his Four By Two Films will develop a feature for Paramount Pictures inspired by Cecil Chao, the Hong Kong billionaire who offered $65 million to any man who succeeded in marrying his lesbian daughter. Chao’s offer made international headlines last week following reports that his daughter had a French church bless her relationship with her longtime girlfriend. The film’s tentatively titled The Lesbian, and is a potential starring vehicle for Baron Cohen, who presumably would play the billionaire. He’ll produce through his Four By Two Films banner. A writer has not been attached. Baron Cohen’s last film, The Dictator, grossed $175 million worldwide for Paramount.
Paramount Taps Sacha Baron Cohen For Fact-Based Comedy ‘The Lesbian’
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“the Hong Kong billionaire…. Baron Cohen, who presumably would play the billionaire.”
He’s talented, but I just wouldn’t buy Baron Cohen as Chinese. Nice try though. I would think he would more likely play the man who’s courting the lesbian daughter.
“Inspired by” means they could change it to any nationality and just use the basics of the story.
Or he could do some heavy eye makeup. Either way.
Can’t figure out how he still gets stupid films funded.
It’s not very complicated. Summarized thus: his films make money.
Yeah, but it still doesn’t make sense. If he spends 65 million to make and market a movie, then makes back 177 million in box office receipts, aren’t people supposed to withhold financing when Bill here decides he didn’t like one of the films?
I knew as soon as I heard the story out of Hong Kong that 1) Hollywood would jump on that bit of news and come up with a comedy inspired by it, and 2) in true Hollywood tradition, under no circumstances would this real-life story inspired by Asians actually star Asians.
Vintage Hollywood.
No he won’t play the billionaire it’s only funny if he plays the guy who tries to seduce the lesbian into marrying him for the money.
Boom!
Sweet.
Perfect. Now Baron Cohen can dress up like an Asian man, and skewer both the Far East and the LGBT community at the same time.
I think we can all agree he stopped being funny after Borat. Keep pushing on that Freddie Mercury biopic Sacha and show us that you can really act. Or better yet, take on a comedic role where you’re NOT playing a ‘character.’ I sincerely hope that he’s better than the crap that was THE DICTATOR.
Sounds offensive and awful.
Alright, I’ve made my fair share of snarky comments on Deadline, but come on…this sounds wonderful.
I’ll pass and rewatch Chasing Amy instead.
My first thought was that he’d play the lesbian daughter.
Anybody hating on Cohen is insane. More consistently funny than any of his peers except maybe Will Ferrel. I haven’t met a person yet who ‘hated’ the dictator. Home run? No, but solid 7-8 out of 10. The average Joe thought it was pretty funny. Give the man some breathing room and let him continue a great career. Comic genius.
And yes, agree, he’s probably playing the suitor, not the father.
HAHAHAHAH. Now THAT is hilarious.
“I haven’t met a person yet who ‘hated’ the dictator.”
GLItch10777, your name doesn’t happen to be Andrew Haas does it?
I would only see this movie if Sacha Baron Cohen played the lesbian daughter.
Holy shit, that’s a brilliant casting idea!
What’s happening with the Freddy Mercury film? Is that ever coming to fruition?
That made me think of the Keith Moon biopic, being shepherded by Roger Daltrey years after Mike Meyers failed to move it to fruition, and now with more scripting problems. Good luck on that.
That said, nobody wants to be known for screwing up a Freddie Mercury biopic.
Good luck getting the film released under that title.
another brilliant ‘world affairs’ premise wasted on frat-humor. The Dictator was brilliant for about 15 minutes until he stopped being the Dictator.
I love people like you who address your comments at the person of interest, as if they’d be reading. Keep up the hilarious commentary. PS. Thanks for the advice.
Let me guess: we’ll get lots of tired gay jokes, some gratuitous lesbian action, and a tired, preachy, are-you-fricking-kidding-me-you-bunch-of-hypocrites final speech in which the father learns that, hey, it’s cool for daughter to be gay. The film will display zero sense of visual style and we’ll also get a penis gag just because, OK?
He should play the lesbian. Now that would be worth watching.
The mans a comic genius, and I could see him playing the father and the suitor, which could add even more comic possibilities. and I hope it’s as offensive as possible, cause laughing at ourselves is the best humour.