Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Queen cast lead role for Freddie Mercury film



Queen have cast Ben Whishaw (above) as Freddie Mercury in the forthcoming biopic about the music icon, according to Deadline.

Whishaw played Q in the 2012 James Bond film, “Skyfall”, appeared in “Cloud Atlas”, played Keith Richards in a 2005 film about Brian Jones titled “Stoned”, and was one of six actors who depicted a version of Bob Dylan in the 2007 movie “I'm Not There.”

Whishaw comes into the project following news over the summer that original lead, Sacha Baron Cohen, had quit the film over creative differences with Queen. The band reportedly want to make more of a PG movie while Cohen was counting on a gritty R-rated tell-all centered around the iconic gay singer.

British actor-turned-director Dexter Fletcher will direct the film, which will tell the formative coming-of-age story of the group, culminating in Queen headlining Live Aid in 1985, where their performance is considered one of rock’s all-time great concert appearances.

Mercury died November 24, 1991, of complications from AIDS, and while his death helped to remove the stigma of AIDS sufferers prevalent at that time and particularly in the rock music industry, Mercury’s last days won’t be the subject of the film.

The project has the cooperation of Mercury's estate and the three surviving members of Queen. Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor will oversee the musical content of the film, which will feature both original Queen music and Mercury solo material.





See also:

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