Sacha partners with Paramount

MANILA, Philippines - Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom, Inc., has signed Sacha Baron Cohen (photo) and his Four By Two Films banner to an exclusive three-year first-look deal. Four By Two Films will be headed by Sir Todd Schulman (The Dictator, Bruno).

As the star and studio prepare to release the comedian’s latest film The Dictator, they simultaneously have agreed to partner again on Sacha’s next original film in which he stars.

As part of the arrangement, Paramount has also created a development fund for Sacha to generate projects in the UK to find new talent.

“Sacha is a comic genius. A wildly talented writer, actor and filmmaker. Beyond that, he is the rare global comedy star. On behalf of all of us at Paramount, we welcome Sacha and look forward to The Dictator and many more great pictures for years to come,” said Brad Grey, chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures.

The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed, The Dictator will open in the US on May 11. Starring Sacha, Sir Ben Kingsley and Anna Farris, the film is directed by Larry Charles and produced by Sacha, Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer, David Mandel and Scott Rudin. Executive producers are long-time collaborators Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer and Peter Baynham.

Sacha is repped by WME.