Sacha Baron Cohen in Running to Play Walter Mitty

Sacha Baron Cohen is in the running to take on the title role in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," a part that could be perfectly suited to his comedic gifts.

The role, which has slipped through the fingers of Mike Myers, Jim Carrey and Owen Wilson, among others, has been offered to Cohen by 20th Century Fox, according to Pajiba, who gives a nice rundown of the production's tortured past -- if you're into that kind of thing.

"Mitty" was originally a short story by James Thurber that appeared in 1939 in The New Yorker and was first turned into a film in 1947 starring Danny Kaye. It's the tale of a beleaguered Connecticut husband who takes comfort in his constant daydreaming.

Cohen's career has been limping along since his 2006 coming out party, when he starred in "Borat," and gave a supporting performance for the ages as Will Ferrell's chief competition in "Talladega Nights."

His only role of note since then has been in "Bruno," which was a disappointment on all fronts, despite the fawning acquiescence of nearly every media outlet on Earth.

Cohen was recently cast in Martin Scorsese's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," which promises to be a fantastic 3-D spectacle, and the guy did just marry Isla FIsher, so things haven't been so bad for him.

Contact Us