Sacha Baron Cohen to play Freddie Mercury Baron Cohen had been on board for two years, Brian May said
Ali G and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen is to play Freddie Mercury in a film about Queen, the rock band's guitarist Brian May has confirmed to the BBC.
"We have Sacha Baron Cohen, which will probably be a shock to a lot of people, but he's been talking with us for a long time," May told the HARDtalk show.
Frost/Nixon scribe Peter Morgan is writing the screenplay, he added.
The film, which will focus on the period leading up to Live Aid in 1985, will begin shooting next year.
"I think we'll try and keep ourselves out of it as much as we can," May said.
Baron Cohen had been "on this project since we started talking about it seriously with Peter Morgan a couple of years ago," he added.
May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor will oversee music featured in the film, which will include songs by the band and by Mercury as a solo performer.
Click to play
Click to play
Brian May on the new Queen film
Graham King, of GK Films, which is co-producing the movie along with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's production company Tribeca, said Queen was "a music brand all unto itself".
"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."
Morgan, whose previous works include the Oscar-nominated screenplays for The Queen and Frost/Nixon, is already working on the script for the as-yet-untitled project.
Queen's 21-minute appearance at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium featured Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions and Radio Ga Ga. It is considered to be one of the classic rock performances.
The HARDtalk interview with Brian May will be broadcast on BBC World News on Thursday 23 September and the BBC News Channel on Friday 24 September.
Focussing on the '80s alone automatically disqualifies this film from any serious consideration. If this is what they're going to do, it won't be a bio-pic, but just another poorly constructed pseudo-concert film á la "Spice Girls: The Movie".
lifetimefanofqueen · Member since
OMFG I CANT BELIEVE THEY ARE MAKEING A MOVIE ABOUT FREDDIE MERCURY!!!!!!!!!!! IM SO EXITED ^_^ ^_^ XD XD
WE ALL NEED TO HAVE A QUEENZONE MEET-UP AND GO SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh wait, is it gonna be in the cinema?
Holly2003 · Member since
lifetimefanofqueen wrote: oh wait, is it gonna be in the cinema? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My guess is that copies of the DVD will be given away free with The Sun and News of the World, or used as coasters at the WWRY musical.
GratefulFan · Member since
ThomasQuinn wrote: Focussing on the '80s alone automatically disqualifies this film from any serious consideration. If this is what they're going to do, it won't be a bio-pic, but just another poorly constructed pseudo-concert film á la "Spice Girls: The Movie". ====================================
It's proposed to be formation through Live Aid, and there's enough story there to something substantial. However. With the heavy hand of the rest of the band (new entity called 'Queen Films') along with the period chosen, I suspect there's going to be bit of a whitewash. To do this kind of film really well, or any biographical work really well, you need arm's length from people who have an investment in how everybody comes out looking. Whether it's offensive to Freddie's mother or not shouldn't be an issue, which is one reason intimated in the past by Brian for previous conceptions never getting off the ground. Freddie's illness and death and the secrecy around it was not only his story, it was a story of those times. Seems a shame and a bit forced to exclude it altogether.
Still, on balance, I'm happy this is coming.
Planetgurl · Member since
GratefulFan wrote: ThomasQuinn wrote: Focussing on the '80s alone automatically disqualifies this film from any serious consideration. If this is what they're going to do, it won't be a bio-pic, but just another poorly constructed pseudo-concert film á la "Spice Girls: The Movie". ====================================
It's proposed to be formation through Live Aid, and there's enough story there to something substantial. However. With the heavy hand of the rest of the band (new entity called 'Queen Films') along with the period chosen, I suspect there's going to be bit of a whitewash. To do this kind of film really well, or any biographical work really well, you need arm's length from people who have an investment in how everybody comes out looking. Whether it's offensive to Freddie's mother or not shouldn't be an issue, which is one reason intimated in the past by Brian for previous conceptions never getting off the ground. Freddie's illness and death and the secrecy around it was not only his story, it was a story of those times. Seems a shame and a bit forced to exclude it altogether.
Still, on balance, I'm happy this is coming. Exactly my opinion too. I would add to this: how can you make a film without featuring the excessive nature of the band? I would like to see a film that is truthful in that respect - not a film where the subject matter is dumbed down because it would effect the legacy of the band. To edit stuff out like that would be a crime... They were a wild and excessive lot: fact.
mike hunt · Member since
don't have a good feeling about this movie.....what are they gonna do?.....make freddie out to be a saint who never snorted coke, had sex with men. doesn't show him during the Innuendo sessions, and how sick he was because it might upset his mother?..... If they're going to do this they must show everything. The main story should be the Music, cos that's what made them great, but you can't Exclude the rest of the stuff all together.
mike hunt · Member since
just seen a picture of the guy who's gonna play freddie.....good choice for sure. looks like him from the pic I saw.
Saif · Member since
mike hunt wrote: just seen a picture of the guy who's gonna play freddie.....good choice for sure. looks like him from the pic I saw. You wouldn't think he was a good choice if you saw any of his movies....
rhyeking · Member since
One article says they're not going to portray Freddie's struggle with AIDS and his last days, so covering his life and career and finishing at Live Aid is good approach.
What will make or break this movie is how they deal with the subject matter, not what years they cover. I hope they tell the story in a compelling way, looking at a unique artist, his struggles both in and out of the studio, and his love of life. It's a biopic, not a documentary, so expect some liberties to be taken and some details left out.
WhiteQueen16 · Member since
As much as i love the idea behind such a film, i am quite worried about the facts that will be surrounding the plot. Knowing that it will be an American film, we tend to only focus on issues such as Freddie being gay. I hate to be one to hate on a film that has yet to be released but knowing the documentaries of the past discourages me about how the film will portray Freddie as an individual. I dont want to be stuck watching another film that only revolves around his lifestyle. He was much more than who they make him out to be. He was an artist, a genius and for lack of a better word, an outrageous performer.
Mr.Jingles · Member since
Borat + Bruno = Freddie Mercury
thomasquinn 32989 · Member since
GratefulFan wrote: ThomasQuinn wrote: Focussing on the '80s alone automatically disqualifies this film from any serious consideration. If this is what they're going to do, it won't be a bio-pic, but just another poorly constructed pseudo-concert film á la "Spice Girls: The Movie". ====================================
It's proposed to be formation through Live Aid, and there's enough story there to something substantial. However. With the heavy hand of the rest of the band (new entity called 'Queen Films') along with the period chosen, I suspect there's going to be bit of a whitewash. To do this kind of film really well, or any biographical work really well, you need arm's length from people who have an investment in how everybody comes out looking. Whether it's offensive to Freddie's mother or not shouldn't be an issue, which is one reason intimated in the past by Brian for previous conceptions never getting off the ground. Freddie's illness and death and the secrecy around it was not only his story, it was a story of those times. Seems a shame and a bit forced to exclude it altogether.
Still, on balance, I'm happy this is coming. ===========
Ah well, at least it would be an excuse to start writing an actual history of Queen rather than the pop-journalist crap we've had to make do with 'till now.
Amazon · Member since
I am very much looking forward to this film. One thing that I am curious about: "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."
What's the real story? :D I thought that I knew the real story or have I just been fed lies? :D :D :D
GratefulFan wrote: "However. With the heavy hand of the rest of the band (new entity called 'Queen Films') along with the period chosen, I suspect there's going to be bit of a whitewash. To do this kind of film really well, or any biographical work really well, you need arm's length from people who have an investment in how everybody comes out looking. Whether it's offensive to Freddie's mother or not shouldn't be an issue, which is one reason intimated in the past by Brian for previous conceptions never getting off the ground. Freddie's illness and death and the secrecy around it was not only his story, it was a story of those times. Seems a shame and a bit forced to exclude it altogether.
Still, on balance, I'm happy this is coming."
I completely agree. While I don't think that they should sensationalize Freddie's sexuality and his death, it should not be ignored and I think it should given the priority that it deserves.
Planetgurl wrote: "Exactly my opinion too. I would add to this: how can you make a film without featuring the excessive nature of the band? I would like to see a film that is truthful in that respect - not a film where the subject matter is dumbed down because it would effect the legacy of the band. To edit stuff out like that would be a crime... They were a wild and excessive lot: fact."
Absolutely. For one thing, they have to include the 1978 Halloween party! :D It would be an extraordinary thing to witness, although many people might question its factual basis.
john bodega · Member since
If I don't see a midget with a coke hat on, I'll be disappointed.
