The physical incarnation of Sacha Baron Cohen's latest comic creation has been revealed.

The man who brought Ali G, Borat and Bruno to the screen has swapped his mankini for a full beard and military uniform for the title role in the film The Dictator.

Little has been released about the film's plot and characters although it is said to be about a dictator fighting to stop democracy from coming to his country.

According to Paramount Pictures it was inspired by the novel Zabibah and The King which some believe was penned by Saddam Hussein.

According to Amazon.com this tells the tale of a powerful ruler and a beautiful commoner who is married to a cruel and unloving husband. It is meant to be read as an allegory for the US invasion of Iraq.

Baron Cohen will play two roles in the film, that of the dictator and the lookalike goat herder that deposes him, leading to his journey to America. An unofficial photo taken from the set earlier in the week showed Baron Cohen in a stars and stripes track suit.

Ben Kingsley and Anna Faris are believed to be joining the cast. Larry Charles, who directed Bruno and Borat, is also working on the project.

The Dictator is scheduled for release in May 2012.