Little Known British Actor Ricky Sekhon To Play Osama Bin Laden In Kathryn Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty'

News

by Simon Dang
June 15, 2012 9:00 AM
3 Comments

In case you wondering if we'll see Osama Bin Laden as a character in Kathryn Bigelow's "Zero Dark Thirty," this pretty much confirms that we will with little known British actor Ricky Sekhon, who barely even has a presence on IMDB, landing the role of the infamous Saudi-born Al-Qaeda leader.

According to Baz Bamigoye, the actor has already completed his secretive work on the film in the Middle East but, before hand, "did extensive research for his portrayal" and "took the decision to drop two stone [about 26 lbs] to be more in line with bin Laden's 11st 11lb [just under 165 lb] weight." Why is this the first time we're hearing about his casting? Well, apparently, there are a few roles that have been "kept off the official cast list because of the 'sensitive nature' of the characters."

We have to say looks-wise the casting is pretty spot on and, despite the gravitas surrounding his name and image, it's a blessing for Sekhon that we probably don't know bin Laden well enough for his performance to be put under a microscope. When asked about the role, Sekhon predictably noted that he "had a part in it, but I can't talk about it, as I'm on quite a big non-disclosure agreement."

Production on "Zero Dark Thirty" is heading to London on its way to a December 19th theatrical unveiling with a massive, international ensemble cast including Americans Chris Pratt, Kyle Chandler, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Ehle, Frank Grillo, Harold Perrineau Jr. and Mark Duplass; Australians Joel & Nash Edgerton, Jason Clarke and Callan Mulvey; Brits Mark Strong and Scott Adkins; Swede Fares Fares; as well as Venezuelan Edgar Ramirez.

News

More: Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow, Ricky Sekhon

3 Comments

| Reply
Travis | June 15, 2012 9:34 AMReply

"Sensitive nature" to me sounds like we may see some high ranking American politicians represented in the film. My hope is they'll talk about how George Bush did his best to not have Bin Laden found. That would be awesome.
Stevo the Magnificent | June 15, 2012 11:57 PM

You're kidding right Travis? President Bush did everything he could to find bin Laden, it was the tactics put in place by Dubya and Dick Cheney that eventually nabbed him in the end... and even after locating him, Obama screwed up by having him killed needlessly instead of capturing him and interrogating him for every scrap of intelligence he knows.
MAGS | June 15, 2012 9:20 AMReply

Lord, it's going to take some makeup skills to UGLY that man. He's cute.