Freddie Mercury Movie to Star Sacha Baron Cohen as Queen's Flamboyant Front Man
Comedia Sacha Baron Cohen scored his next film role as Freddie Mercury in a biopic based on the former front man for Queen.
Graham King, who worked on “Gangs of New York” with legendary director Martin Scorsese, will produce the film.
King also worked with Cohen on Scorsese's animated film “Hugo” that was released last week.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
“Who better to play Freddie Mercury than Sacha Baron Cohen? You never know [if a film will actually come together] until it’s done, but I’m hoping [he plays the part]. He’s so talented, and you see a side to him in Hugo that no one had ever seen before. Very emotional, and very heartfelt," said King to the press recently.
King expressed excitement over his selection of the former "Ali G" star.
“Queen is one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and a music brand all unto itself,” he said in a statement. “Freddie Mercury was an awe-inspiring performer, so with Sacha in the starring role coupled with Peter’s screenplay and the support of Queen, we have the perfect combination to tell the real story behind their success.”
British writer Peter Morgan wrote the screenplay. He also wrote: “The Deal,” “The Queen,” “Frost/Nixon,” and “The Special Relationship.”
The film will follow the band up to their 1985 performance at "Live Aid". It will be the first time the surviving members of Queen will have licensed songs and music publishing rights for a movie covering the band.
Cohen rose to fame for his antics on "Da Ali G Show." His performance in the 2007 comedy “Borat” earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor: Musical or Comedy.
Recently Cohen turned to more dramatic roles playing Signor Adolfo Pirelli in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and Inspector Gustav in “Hugo.”
