The long-gestating Freddie Mercury biopic hit a snag this past summer when its lead, Sacha Baron Cohen, dropped out over disagreements with the surviving members of Queen over the direction of the film. Cohen pushed for a R-rated and serious take on the frontman while Mercury’s family and bandmates apparently pushed for a PG and more family-friendly angle. Also, it seems that they were worried no one would take Cohen seriously. “We felt Sacha probably wasn’t right in the end. We didn’t want it to be a joke. We want people to be moved,” Queen drummer Roger Taylor told Mojo. Mercury’s estate is still pushing forward with their plans for the biopic, however, and two actors are being rumored to be in the running for music icon.
One of the first names to crop up after Cohen left was “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe. If that seems like a ridiculous pie-in-the-sky rumor, it’s because it was. We’ll let Radcliffe (via Empire) explain: “It’s one of those very, very funny things: it came out of a story in the Daily Star and then you see newspapers like The Guardian using The Star as their source, and it grows and grows [until] it’s ‘Dan Radcliffe is playing Freddie Mercury!,’ which I was never going to do.”
So if not Radcliffe, then who? According to Latino Review, “The Devil’s Double” star Dominic Cooper is the latest actor “circling the project.” Of course, no formal talks have taken place yet and Cooper would still have to pass through Queen’s review. To recap, the Mercury biopic still has no director—though at one point Cohen attempted to bring in Tom Hooper and Stephen Frears as potential helmers—and “The Queen” and “Rush” screenwriter Peter Morgan was tasked to pen the biopic, though it’s not clear if that’s still the case.
What do you folks think? Should Queen have just stuck with Cohen’s push for a more adult version of Mercury’s story or would you prefer a lighter-take on the singer? And who has enough charisma to pull off being one of the greatest frontmen the world has ever seen?
I had looked forward to watching this with Cohen playing Freddie. I wont bother to watch it now because it will be a candy coated watered down commercial for Queen! I agree with Sacha in that it should have covered Freddie's wild party life, the drugs, the music, the sex and leading up to his dealing with Aids and death! Freddie's life was anything PG! Give us the real deal!
I personally am thrilled with this news. I was never into Cohen playing Freddie. No doubt he's talented but the casting just seemed off me. I was always rooting for a unknown or semi unknown to get the role. I think Dominic will do a fantastic job. I can't believe you all are insulting May and Taylor. Those two know Freddie more than any of you ever will.
Sacha Baron Cohen would've been perfect playing Freddie !
Seriously, why have the not approached Jordan Gavaris of Orphan Black, he's so Freddie in that show.
When I heard that Cohen had been cast as Freddy Mercy I thought it was perfect casting. Casting might be the most important part of making a movie and when they cast Cohen they really nailed it. His work in Les Miserables and Sweeney Todd start to show what he can do dramatically and musically which is what the movie calls for. It sounds like Cohen was really invested in the role and movie as a whole. He tried to get Tom Hooper (won Best Director) and Stephen Frears (twice nominated for Best Director) for the movie. He also wanted it rated R and have a more serious take. And they thought people wouldn't take Cohen seriously and he would make it a joke???? What would lead them to believe that???? I'm lost on this one, bring back Cohen! There's still time!
Also, how do you make a biopic PG and family-friendly when the subject died of AIDS???
Well, Queen are stupid. That's why they're a joke without Freddie.
Idiots. Cohen would have done a great job.