Finally! The Freddie Mercury biopic that Sony has been developing for some time is now headed into production next summer as the studio brings in Anthony McCarten to finish the script.
Sacha Baron Cohen was originally cast to bring to life the legendary frontman but the actor parted ways with the project after creative differences with Queen's surviving members arose. He supposedly wanted to bring to the fore a more raw look at Mercury's life, which is a stark contrast to the PG-rated script that the biopic was following at the time. Him leaving is actually a shame because not only will he surely be able to pull off the theatrics that Mercury is known for but he also looks unbelievably like the Queen front man.
Eyed to replace him is Ben Whishaw, who most recently reprised his role as Q in "Spectre" and will next be seen in "In the Heart of the Sea." Whishaw has so far shined in the roles that he's played so there is a big chance that he'll be able to give playing Freddie Mercury justice. He does have a script from the "The Theory of Everything" screenwriter to follow so he's at least off to a good start. He's going to need a bit more styling, however, than the last guy to totally look the part but there's nothing impossible in Hollywood.
Will McCarten take cues from Baron Cohen or will he be building upon the foundations that Peter Morgan laid? It's still anyone's guess at this point but there is at least assurance that Mercury's story will be given the flair it deserves, going by how McCarten adeptly portrayed Stephen Hawking's life in "The Theory of Everything."
Also in the cast are Gemma Arterton as Mary Austin, Mercury's longtime partner, and Johnny Flynn, who will take the drumsticks as Queen's Roger Taylor. They will begin production in June 2016.
Queen was formed in 1971 in London, going on to sell over 130 million records worldwide. The group ceased their activities when Mercury died in 1991 but the band's legacy and influence live on and continue to grow to this day.
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