Music

Sacha Baron Cohen to play Freddie Mercury in new film

by Ciaran Thompson

Sacha Baron Cohen, made famous for his roles as Ali G and Borat, will star in a new film about iconic rock band Queen as lead vocalist Freddie Mercury.

“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,” Queen guitarist Brian May told the BBC.

The screenplay for the as-yet-untitled film will be written by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) and will focus on the band leading up to their 1985 performance and Live Aid. It’s set to start shooting sometime next year.

“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,” said Graham King of GK Films, who is co-producing it along with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal’s production company Tribeca

May and drummer Roger Taylor will supervise the music in the film that will include both Queen and solo material from Mercury.