Sacha Baron Cohen returns to write, direct and star in Freddie Mercury biopic
By Ryan Love
Sacha Baron Cohen has returned to direct and star in a film based on the life of Queen singer Freddie Mercury, two years after quitting the project.
Citing “creative differences” with Mercury’s former band members Brian May and Roger Taylor, Cohen exited the project in 2013, with actor Ben Whishaw stepping in to star.
However, both Whishaw and director Dexter Fletcher stepped back from the project when production was delayed due to creative issues with the script.
Speaking at the Artist and Manager Award this week, Queen’s manager Jim Beach confirmed the “important breakthrough”.
“You have probably followed the saga of the famous Queen-Freddie Mercury biopic which has been developing in Hollywood for the last seven years,” he told the crowd.
Beach went on to confirm that Baron Cohen will write, produce, direct and star as Mercury in the film.
No further details on when production will begin have been confirmed.
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