Steven Spielberg casts Sacha Baron Cohen in Chicago Seven

While Sacha Baron Cohen recently announced the retirement of his Borat and Ali G personalities (though Brüno will still likely be coming out in 2008), surely this latest announcement is indicative of the actor's quickly rising star. According to The Sunday Times, Cohen has been announced as a lead in Steven Spielberg's upcoming film The Trial of the Chicago Seven.

Cohen will play Abbie Hoffman, one of the yippies who protested the 1968 Democratic National Committee. Hoffman was particularly outspoken and quite a troublemaker during his time, which seems to lend well to Cohen taking on the role. Aaron Sorkin (most recently of Charlie Wilson's War) is writing the film, which is said to fit in nicely with the darker side of Spielberg's canon.

While Cohen continues to battle legal troubles in the wake of Borat, fans can currently check him out in Sweeney Todd as Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

Related links:
Paste: Aaron Sorkin signs deal with Dreamworks
Steven Spielberg on IMDB
Dreamworks.com

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