Sacha Baron Cohen is heading to TV.
The actor-comedian-producer has signed a first look TV deal with FX Productions, and previously unaired episodes of his landmark comedy Da Ali G Show will get a stateside debut on FXX in 2014.
"We're thrilled to be in business with Sacha Baron Cohen," said FX Networks and FX Productions president of original programming, Nick Grad, who made the announcement with Eric Schrier. "He is an amazing talent, and we look forward to him developing new series for FXP. We're also excited to introduce Da Ali G Show and Sacha's characters to a new audience on FXX. And we can't wait to see how he will incorporate new, original content in the episodes."
In addition to developing new comedy projects for FX Productions, whose current comedy efforts include Legit, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Archer and critical darling Louie, Baron Cohen will film new introductions to Da Ali G Show -- which first debuted in the U.K. in 2003.
Da Ali G Show ran for 18 episodes and spawned a film, helping make its creator and star a household name in the U.K. and taking his career to the U.S. HBO aired the show in the U.S., though not all of them. The new deal ensures some unseen episodes will air for the first time in the U.S.
The network is branding the run Ali G: Rezurection, which will premiere in February 2014 on FXX.
FXP currently has deals with Always Sunny's Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton's RCG Productions -- as well as Floyd County Productions (Archer EPs/showrunners Adam Reed and Matt Thompson), Touchy Feel Films (Paul Giamatti and Dan Carey) and Color Force's Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.
Baron Cohen is repped by WME and Ziffren, Brittenham.
