Official image released

The first official image from Sacha Baron Cohen's new film The Dictator has been revealed.

Sharing its name with the Chaplin classic, the new comedy is about a despot who travels to America after begin deposed by a goatherd lookalike.

Baron Cohen plays both roles, donning a full beard and extravagant military uniform in the newly released image.

Paramount Pictures say the movie was inspired by the novel Zabibah And The King said to have been written by Saddam Hussein.It is about a charismatic ruler who helps a peasant girl married to a cruel rapist, an analogy for the United States

The cast also includes Ben Kingsley and Scary Movie's Anna Faris as a hippy who shows the dictator the possibilities of a new life.

The Dictator is currently being shot in New York, and is scheduled for release in May next year. It is directed by Larry Charles, the man who also made Bruno and Borat.

In other movie news, a teaser trailer has also been released for the forthcoming Inbetweeners film, in which the sixth-former go on holiday to Malia:

Published: 10 Jun 2011