EVERYONE knows Sacha Baron Cohen as goofy, lanky and near-the-knuckle ... but who would have thought he would have named his next blockbuster movie Grimsby?
Hollywood's entertainment journalists went into a frenzy yesterday with the snippet of news – but do they even realise Grimsby is a place?
Probably not. But what we do know is that the Borat star took inspiration from the borough by visiting the Grimsby docks, Freeman Street pubs, East Marsh, West Marsh, and Blundell Park only last month ... not something a multi-millionaire actor does very often.
The action-heavy film will follow a Bond-style British black-ops agent played by Sacha who is forced to team up with his estranged brother – who happens to be a northern English football hooligan.
Sacha is taking the lead role, but any indication of who will play his brother has not yet been made.
And the Paramount production is set to be directed by Louis Leterrier, the man behind smash-hit thriller Now You See Me – which starred Sacha's real-life wife, Australian actress Isla Fisher.
As reported, Sasha has penned the script alongside Phil Johnston, who previously wrote Wreck-It Ralph for Disney.
During his visit to Grimsby, Sacha toured The Grimsby Fish Company, in Wharncliffe Road.
Owner Jody Douglass recalled: "He was a very nice guy. I think the idea for his new film sounds really good; everyone likes his films and you know it's going to be funny.
"I think it will be great for the town. I can't see it being a problem."
The licensee of the Corporation Arms, in Freeman Street, Nev Carrick, has offered an invitation to Sacha to return to the pub to film.
The star popped into the bar while he was in town, and Nev hopes the movie will actually be made here.
He said: "Having the film set here in Grimsby would do nothing but good for the area.
"Yes, he makes jokes but here in Freeman Street everyone can take a joke.
"The film would really put Grimsby in the spotlight.
"When Sacha came into the pub, he was a really nice guy. He sat in the corner with his people and were just chatting with the customers.
"He is always welcome to come back and film in the pub!"
Sacha also made a stop-off at the Blundell Park Hotel after watching Grimsby Town play.
The licensee of the hotel, Vanessa Kirk, said his first visit was very unexpected.
"I think it's great that he wants to make a film called Grimsby," she said.
"To think such a big actor is interested in us here is great. He has already brought so much publicity to the town, so a film can only be a good thing.
"We know he will make a joke out of us but that is what you expect from him.
"He is going to rip us to shreds! I can't wait to see the film."
The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Peggy Elliott, said there is no such thing as "bad press".
"I didn't know this had happened; this is the first I've heard about it!" she said.
"It's quite an honour really to have a prestigious actor like that naming a film after Grimsby.
"But the jury's out until I have seen it. As long as it shows us in a good light, then it should be beneficial to the town.
"He is known for making controversy and taking the micky out of places. No doubt it will be funny, I just hope it's not too harsh!"
Councillor Chris Shaw, the leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, added: "It's very interesting news.
"There's been no involvement form the authority's side, so there's nothing further we can say, other than we'll be watching developments with anticipation!"
Andy Carr, the man behind Grimsby Town's Mighty Mariner mascot, was filmed when Sasha visited Blundell Park.
He said he was beckoned over to the corner flag at the Pontoon Stand at half-time by a woman who then filmed him.
He asked her what it was for and she said the crew were filming for some research about the town.
Andy said: "I'm not sure if they will use the footage of me or not, but it would be quite amusing if they did with me messing around on the side of the pitch.
"I should think it will be a micky-take of Grimsby, but it's still good publicity for the area ... it just depends if people see the funny side of it.
"If not, it could end up like the Skint TV programme, because that didn't do Scunthorpe any favours at all.
"This will be more of a comedy, so if people don't take it too seriously it should be a bit of fun."
David Blake, a Mariner now working as a writer in Manchester, added: "Cohen is hardly known for his kind portrayals of his subject matter: Ali G, Borat, Bruno, The Dictator. All hilarious but brutally satirical.
"Borat practically had Kazakhstan take up arms. So I wouldn't expect a charming portrayal of the town, more piercing. Luckily, we Grimbarians have strong chins.
"And they do say no publicity is bad publicity. Except in Kazakhstan."
When producer Phil Johnston visited the town last August, reporter Laura Crombie took him on a tour of local highlights.
Phil, who also wrote the award-nominated film Cedar Rapids, said: "I came to Grimsby to see the northern football supporters and to get a sense of how they talked."
The former broadcast journalist, who splits his time between Los Angeles and New York, came to Grimsby twice on his whistle-stop tour of the north.
He said: "I grew up in Wisconsin and it is very similar to Grimsby in many ways.
"Wisconsin was changed forever by the closure of steel and paper mills and I can see the decline of the fishing industry had a similar impact here.
"The overwhelming thing is I found northern people honest and straightforward.
"Everybody I met was so happy to help me and eager to share their stories with me."
The producers of the film, Paramount Pictures, was unavailable for comment.
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