There has been the idea of doing a Freddie Mercury biopic for what seems like an eternity. Originally slated to feature Sacha Baron Cohen as Mercury, but due to the long gestation period for the film, Cohen had to scream “I Want to Break Free” and left the project. Cohen eventually left the project, due to the fact that he and the surviving members of Queen couldn’t agree on one vision, however the show must go on and Ben Whishaw seems to be the man to fill the yellow leathers.
Although not signed on he seems to be the favourite to take the role, and now a new write will revamp an original draft from Peter Morgan, The Theory of Everything writer, Anthony McCarten. McCarten clearly has previous writing biopics as shown by Theory of Everything and the usually reliable Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, Rush) will have hopefully provided a solid base for a script featuring a kind of magic.
The film has been in production for a while, and the legacy and legend that Mercury carries probably puts a lot of the involved parties under pressure. But with people like this on board here’s hoping this film finds it’s way through the production system and doesn’t end up being a case where another one bites the dust.
#Peace.Love.FreddieMercury