The film is being scripted by Peter Morgan (The Last King of Scotland, Frost/Nixon and, ironically, The Queen) and will be co-produced by Robert De Niro’s production company, Tribeca.
Morgan is apparently already beavering away on the screenplay, which will cover Queen’s formative years and lead up to their sensational performance at Live Aid in 1985 (see below). Although Freddie Mercury’s sad death from an AIDS-related illness in 1991 might be seen to be a significant potential dramatic touchstone for the film, it is not understood to be part of the story on which Morgan is working.
Deadline report further that the producers have secured the rights to such Queen classics as Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust, We are the Champions and We Will Rock You, although it is unclear yet whether Mercury’s singing will be used or whether Sacha Baron Cohen will have a crack at singing the songs.
Obviously Joaquin Phoenix did a good job of belting out Johnny Cash’s songs for Walk The Line, however Angela Basset went the miming route for Tina Turner. Although Sacha Baron Cohen’s singing voice may prove to be excellent, it feels like Mercury’s voice is so distinctive, so iconic, so peerless that it might be a tall order for Cohen to do it justice.
What is clear, is that Sacha Baron Cohen is an excellent match for Mercury in terms of his appearance and although our main experience of him so far has been in a comedy vein (Talladega Nights, Borat, Bruno, Madagascar), I just get the sense that he is one of those comedy performers who will be able to make the transition to a dramatic role easily, like Peter Sellers, Will Smith or Jim Carrey.
No director has been attached to the project yet. We will bring you more news as this intriguing production develops. In the meantime, feel free to comment below on whether Sacha Baron Cohen seems like a good choice, or whether someone else might better fill Mercury’s shoes.
You can click through here for the rest of the Deadline story.
Freddie Mercury had a powerful voice. Very controlled pitch. The best in my opinion. Luck to Sacha.
Freddie Mercury had a powerful voice. Very controlled pitch. The best in my opinion. Luck to Sacha.
I think they picked him because he looks like Freddie. Y’know he might pull it off because I hear even though he’s a comedian he has a really good work ethic. Keanu Reeves did martial art training for the Matrix and was convincing maybe if Sacha trains hard enough he could pull it off.
Who was such an idiot who sign this contract or … Nobody knows enething about Freddie life. Marry knows more than anybody else. Did your aske her about this crazy idia – you want clown becomw Freddie!!!! Give me a break! YOu want to puit Freddie’s name in the biggest sheet than his name is now in US!!!! Just 10% of Amercian knows who Freddie was! Everybody else know” Oh, yes this gay who use a lot of makeup, black nail polish and wear woman clothes! how many Americans know about Webley- try to find somebody except celebrites most of them liked to put Freddie name in s…!
And Peter and Robert! I don’t care one of you made “We will rock you” or “The Queen”! Hey , Bryan, Roger, Jonh! You’re always saying that nobody knows anything about Freddie life! NOw somebody try to make a decision about false theeth!!!!!!
Who was such an idiot who sign this contract or … Nobody knows enething about Freddie life. Marry knows more than anybody else. Did your aske her about this crazy idia – you want clown becomw Freddie!!!! Give me a break! YOu want to puit Freddie’s name in the biggest sheet than his name is now in US!!!! Just 10% of Amercian knows who Freddie was! Everybody else know” Oh, yes this gay who use a lot of makeup, black nail polish and wear woman clothes! how many Americans know about Webley- try to find somebody except celebrites most of them liked to put Freddie name in s…!
And Peter and Robert! I don’t care one of you made “We will rock you” or “The Queen”! Hey , Bryan, Roger, Jonh! You’re always saying that nobody knows anything about Freddie life! NOw somebody try to make a decision about false theeth!!!!!!
That post was slightly confusing but I think I get the gist of it.
You have used ‘ironically’ in an incorrect way.