Ben Kingsley Signs on for Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator

Ben Kingsley will join Sacha Baron Cohen in The Dictator, a Paramount comedy by Seinfeld scribes Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer and Dave Mandel (and Cohen's frequent collaborator Dan Mazer) that "follows a heroic dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy never comes to the country he so lovingly oppressed." Kingsley is slated to star as one of two Middle Eastern characters who comes into play, and Jason Mantzoukas of The League is in talks for the other role. Personally, I'm still hurting from Kingsley's Oscar loss for Sexy Beast, so let's hope this unconventional story gives him the standing for a second statuette. [Variety]