Sacha Baron Cohen is known for his over-the-top comedic roles like Borat and Ali G, but he’s taking a break from comedy to star in Netflix’s new spy drama.
Netflix is great at creating amazing shows, and their latest drama The Spy sounds fantastic. The six-episode series follows Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy working in Syria in the 1960s, and Cohen will be played by none other than funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen.
It’s a surprising role for Baron Cohen to take on, as he’s not just famous for being a comedic actor. Baron Cohen often disappears entirely into his outrageous comedic roles, so to see him take on something so earnest and something that could be so emotionally taxing is surprising.
As Variety reports, The Spy will talk about real-life spy Eli Cohen’s work in Syria, the ways embedded himself into Syrian high society, and rose through the ranks politically. The spy’s actions, the connections he made, and ultimately his death didn’t only have a large impact on Syrian society in the 60s, but they shaped the Middle East as we know it today.
There isn’t any information on when The Spy will hit Netflix or who else will be in the cast. However, the limited event is being written by Gideon Raff, who was a writer on Homeland, so we have no doubt that The Spy will be an utterly engaging story. We’ll just have to wait and see what it’s like to watch Baron Cohen in a dramatic role when the show officially releases.