Biographical Thriller · 2011
One man. Two lives. A role he never asked for — with no way out. The true story of the man forced to wear the face of Iraq's most feared son.
1987. Baghdad. The gilded skyline of Iraq's oil-rich capital conceals a world of brutality and absolute power — the private hunting ground of Uday Hussein, Saddam's eldest son, Iraq's Black Prince.
Army lieutenant Latif Yahia (Dominic Cooper) is pulled from the front lines of the Iran-Iraq War and summoned to the palace. The reason: he bears an uncanny resemblance to Uday. He is given a choice that is no choice at all — become Uday's fiday, his official body double, absorbing the danger of public appearances and assassination attempts. Or watch his family condemned to death.
Forced to accept, Latif is plunged into the extravagance of Uday's world — fast cars, sprawling palaces, limitless money. But beneath the gold lies something far darker. He must learn to walk, talk and look like one of the most hated men in Iraq — and he must be perfect, because imperfection means execution.
Knowing who to trust becomes a matter of survival. Sarrab (Ludivine Sagnier), Uday's captive concubine, becomes an unlikely ally — the one thread of humanity in a nightmare, and perhaps his only path to freedom.
Adapted from Latif Yahia's own autobiography, The Devil's Double charts one man's harrowing struggle to preserve his identity — and his soul — in a world of violence, seduction and power without limit.
"Cooper makes each character completely distinct — polar opposites sharing the same face."
— The Guardian, film reviewOfficial
Dominic Cooper portrays both lead roles — never sharing the frame with another actor in the same scenes
Performances
Lead Role (Dual)
Latif Yahia / Uday Hussein
BAFTA Nominated · Best Actor
Female Lead
Sarrab — Uday's concubine
French actress
Supporting
Muazzam — Uday's advisor
British-Iraqi actor
Supporting
Saddam Hussein
Australian actor
Photo Gallery
Historical Background
Latif Yahia is a real person, born in 1964 in Baghdad. As a child he attended the same school as Uday Hussein, and their physical resemblance was striking from the very beginning.
In 1987, serving as an army officer on the Iran-Iraq War front, Yahia was transported to the Hussein palace. His options were stark: agree to become Uday's fiday — his personal shield at public events where assassination risk was highest — or see his family destroyed.
In 1991, following a serious assassination attempt that left Uday partly paralysed, Yahia managed to escape via Austria. He was granted political asylum in Ireland and later wrote the autobiography that became the basis for this film.
Latif Yahia is born in Baghdad. As a schoolboy he shares a classroom with Uday Hussein.
Yahia is pulled from the Iran-Iraq War front and coerced into becoming Uday's official body double.
Yahia witnesses and is implicated in Uday's most extreme acts of violence across Baghdad.
An assassination attempt seriously wounds Uday. Yahia exploits the chaos and escapes westward through Austria.
Uday Hussein is killed by US forces in Mosul. Yahia publishes his memoirs internationally.
The Devil's Double world-premieres at Sundance Film Festival to wide critical acclaim.
Recognition
BAFTA · 2012
Dominic Cooper nominated for his extraordinary dual portrayal of Latif Yahia and Uday Hussein
NominatedSundance · 2011
Selected for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the world's premier independent film festival in Park City, Utah
Official SelectionLondon Critics' Circle · 2012
Dominic Cooper nominated by the London Film Critics' Circle for his dual-role performance
NominatedQuestions & Answers
Yes. The film adapts the autobiography of Latif Yahia, who truly served as the official body double of Uday Hussein from the late 1980s into the early 1990s. After escaping via Austria, Yahia was granted political asylum in Ireland, where he later wrote his account of events.
The production used split-screen techniques and stand-in body doubles for scenes where both characters appear simultaneously. Cooper filmed each role separately and the footage was composited in post-production. He also worked with a movement coach to develop distinct physical languages and vocal patterns for each character, making them feel unmistakably different despite sharing the same face.
The film was directed by New Zealand filmmaker Lee Tamahori, best known internationally for the James Bond film Die Another Day (2002). His other credits include Once Were Warriors (1994), Mulholland Falls (1996), and Next (2007).
Uday Hussein, Saddam's eldest son, was notorious for extreme cruelty and volatile behaviour. He survived a serious assassination attempt in 1996 that left him partially paralysed. On 22 July 2003, he was killed alongside his brother Qusay during a firefight with US forces in Mosul, Iraq.
The film is rated R in the United States and carries an 18 certificate in the UK and most other territories. It contains strong violence, sexual content, and disturbing material throughout. It is not appropriate for younger audiences. IMDb rating: 7.0/10.
The film is available to stream or rent on major legal platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies — availability varies by region. It was also released on Blu-ray and DVD.