Actor Rami Malek will play Freddie Mercury in the Queen film Bohemian Rhapsody.
Queen – the iconic band that gave hits such as, well, pretty much every song they wrote – has been planning to make a film on lead singer, front man, and genius Freddie Mercury for over eight years now. Several actors were considered for the role, including Sacha Baron Cohen. However, Cohen walked out of the film saying there was too much creative interference from the band members.
After a gap, Queen have now finalised Bryan Singer to direct the film, with Rami Malek playing Mercury. The Queen Online website confirmed the news, with other sources also confirming the same.
Brian May and Roger Taylor, the two remaining members of the band, and Executive Producers of the film, told QOL, “Rami has great presence and he’s utterly dedicated to the project. He’s completely living and breathing Freddie already, which is wonderful.”
Pre-production will begin late July or early August in the UK, and the film is likely go on floors in September.
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Rami Malek is best known for his TV series Mr. Robot, while Singer has directed the X-Men franchise and The Usual Suspects.
Rami Malek also went on the American television show Jimmy Kimmel Live, and attempted to play the part of Mercury.
(Fangirl Note: While no one can even approximate Mercury, Sacha Baron Cohen came closest.)