Freddie Mercury biopic 'probably won't happen' (Peter Morgan via BBC)

From [url=http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/freddie-mercury-biopic-probably-wont-happen-following/318850]http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/freddie-mercury-biopic-probably-wont-happen-following/318850[/url]

The long-planned biopic of Freddie Mercury is unlikely to go ahead following Sacha Baron Cohen's exit, the film's writer has revealed.

Baron Cohen had been attached to star as Mercury since September 2010, but he pulled out of the project
in July, reportedly because he and Queen, who have script and director approval, were unable to agree on the type of movie they want to make.

The band apparently want the biopic to be a PG affair, while the actor was keen to delve into the grittier, more adult aspects of Mercury's famously hedonistic lifestyle. Now screenwriter Peter Morgan, whose
script was reportedly turned down by Queen, has revealed that the project has been shelved, according to a tweet from the BBC's Entertainment News Team.

Morgan is the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind The Queen, Frost/Nixon and this month's Rush.
His script, it was reported in March, was to begin with the formation of Queen in the early '70s and end with their legendary 1985 Live Aid set.

While not a definitive shelving of the Biopic It is hardly surprising to hear. Shame Brian and Roger could not walk away and leave it to the professionals. The distinction between a truly reflective biopic and protecting "the brand" has become too much of an obstacle to overcome. I doubt Brian and Roger will ever read this but they should have backed off.

I think they were trying to protect Freddie's reputation rather than The Brand. Something that can't very effectively be protected.

Agreed. Who knows what kind of movie had been planned. It's not surprising that BM and RT wanted control

It's really up to them to protect the reputation of their colleague and friend,wouldn't we all?

[QUOTE]

[b]ANAGRAMER wrote: [/b] Agreed. Who knows what kind of movie had been planned. It's not surprising that BM and RT wanted control

It's really up to them to protect the reputation of their colleague and friend,wouldn't we all?[/QUOTE]

I agree. Personally I would rather see a biopic rather than a 'tribute' type of movie, but that's just me being nosey. I don't blame them for not wanting to go that direction, since it might be to many people's distaste. Wanting him to be remembered as a great musician and friend rather than whatever promiscuous things that possibly happened isn't unreasonable. If he was more of a "normal" rock star, if there is such a thing, then people probably wouldn't mind the wildness. Sex, drugs, and Rock N' Roll. Queen in pop culture seems pretty tame, and I suppose keeping it that way is best for business, also.

I´m glad that Roger and Brian are in control. It´s up to them to make the type of film they feel confortable with. Enough of fake hollywood bios aiming the Oscars.

If Peter Morgan feels this way about the project, then he can leave. There´s lots of people who could write great scripts. Leave it to a real Queen fan like Rhys Thomas. With Rhys passion for the band and the music, i believe he could come up with something excellent.

Sure, but then it becomes a sanitized project, which isn't truthful. So it becomes another Freddie myth building exercise. The Eagles recent doc was warts and all, that's what I'd like to see from Queen, never happen though.

Shame. Honestly, I was not an enthusiast of SBC taking the lead at all, but when I heard his reasons for bowing out, I actually saw the logic there and felt for the guy. I mean, how on Earth would you give an authentic and honest portrayal of Freddie Mercury's life with a PG rating? The idea seems farcical to me. At the same time, I have no reason to think that SBC, Peter Morgan and any other filmmakers involved wanted a graphic, vulgar, 18 rated movie. I mean, these people have got brains too.

Brian and Roger fucked this up big time for me. However, when I think about it, I should not be surprised at all. The Made in Heaven album (as much as I like it) was watered down in the same kind of sentimentality, the same applies to the popular, mass approach of WWRY musical and recent Queen Extravaganza project. You can eat me for this, but all these projects were safe and lacked personality and edginess. All these Five, Robbie and Britney collaborations... Gosh!!! At least they saved some low keys for the "Mother Love" arrangement, including Brian's haunting solo. It will sound harsh, but it was one of the rare moments after Freddie's death when they actually put art first, instead of worrying about how people and the record company will react.

See, this is why musicians who have had little actual direct interaction with movie making (sorry, music videos don't count!) in Hollywood should not waste their time trying to create projects that they don't want to have anything less than 100% control over in the first place. Experienced movie makers exist for a reason, they know what they are doing and would be best suited with the knowledge how to reach the audience and demographic as how it should be appropriately targeted, and contrary to what musicians or their estates may wishwashfully want to think, know what their audiences want. Brian and Roger definitely failed big time with letting their egos and protectionism getting in the way.

I'm kinda glad it's not happening.
I don't really think the world needs to see a film about Freddies private life.

Brian has tweeted a comment in reaction to Peter Morgan's 'it's probably not going to happen', to say "he reckons?!"

Seems rather combatative?!!

Poor old Bri is in denial, bless him. The project will probably be shelved within six months. Peter Morgan knows the business quite well and he can see whats coming. Looking forward to seeing how they back out of it, will probably blame "Hollywood" and anybody else they can, as usual.

Double post...

[QUOTE] [b]inu-liger wrote:[/b] See, this is why musicians who have had little actual direct interaction with movie making (sorry, music videos don't count!) in Hollywood should not waste their time trying to create projects that they don't want to have anything less than 100% control over in the first place. Experienced movie makers exist for a reason, they know what they are doing and would be best suited with the knowledge how to reach the audience and demographic as how it should be appropriately targeted, and contrary to what musicians or their estates may wishwashfully want to think, know what their audiences want. [/QUOTE] To be fair, a lot of crap gets put out by experienced movie makers too, so blindly trusting them is no answer either. I think the problem is that Brian and Roger don't have a strong vision of what movie they want, just vague ideas and "we'll know what we like when we see it." If they have a strong vision, it wouldn't have taken them this long to figure out that the people they hired had a totally different approach to the movie than what they wanted.

This piece of news does not bother me at all. My impression is that Sacha Baron Cohen would have wanted an actual, serious movie while Brian and Roger wanted an airbrushed, polished, neatly wrapped plug for the Queen Brand; a sort of "Freddie Mercury Commercial" or a We Will Rock You musical as a movie. A Disney version of Freddie's life. That goes in line with the traditional releases of Queen Productions and the lame projects with teen idols that Brian and Roger embark on, and it would have resulted in an abysmal movie.

I was never excited about the Freddie biopic and I'm only kind of glad that it goes away, because from a movie-goer's perspective I never saw it as a good idea: even if it had been a success on its own terms (= Brian & Roger wouldn't have any say about it whatsoever and there'd be a decent director, writer and casting) it still wouldn't have been more special than any average bland biopic about Princess Diana or Johnny Cash or some athlete. It wouldn't have been great cinema, it would not have deserved more than 5-6 stars on IMDb. A documentary about Freddie's life is enough and that already exists.

The world doesn't need a Freddie Mercury movie any more than it needs Freddie Mercury comics, Freddie Mercury trading cards, a Freddie Mercury beer brand or Freddie Mercury colouring books.