September 17th, 2010
Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has closed a deal to portray Queen front man Freddie Mercury in an untitled biopic, according to Deadline New York.The Queen screenwriter Peter Morgan penned the script for the upcoming movie, which will go into production in 2011. Graham King is producing via his GK Films banner, and he will also finance the project. Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal are also producing through their Tribeca Productions label.
The movie will follow Queen's formative years, which will lead up to the band's performance at Live Aid in 1985, considered by many to be among the greatest live rock performances of all time. The site reports that the rights package includes the band's songs. It was unclear at this time whether or not Sacha Baron Cohen would actually be singing, or if they will use Freddie Mercury's vocals. The site also reports that the movie won't cover the last days of Freddie Mercury's life, who died of AIDS in 1991. Here's what Graham King had to say about the project:
"Queen is one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and 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."
This will mark the first time that Queen's surviving members have licensed their songs for use in a movie about the band. They also formed Queen Films, which will be a producing partner on the new movie.
We'll be sure to keep you posted with any further details on this untitled Queen movie as soon as we have more information.
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