The Scene

Sacha Baron Cohen Set to Star in Freddie Mercury Biopic

Published on Friday, November 25 2011
Written by Super User

A new biopic, set to being shooting next year, has been a topic of discussion in Hollywood for the past year when screenwriter Peter Morgan began writing the script.

This biopic is based on late Queen lead singer, Freddie Mercury, who passed away 20 years ago from AIDS. Yet his career still flourishes, influencing the new generation of performers like Lady Gaga and Foo Fighters, who cite Queen among their influences.

Gangs of New York and The Departed producer, Graham King, will produce the Mercury biopic; however, a director has yet to be announced. King has a reputation for picking unlikely actors for his films, and for this one, he has chosen none other than Borat’s eccentric star Sacha Baron Cohen to play the flamboyant Mercury.

From producing Martin Scorsese’s film Hugo, in which Cohen appears, King saw the actor's emotional and heartfelt performance, realizing that he would be perfect to take on the part of Freddie Mercury. Sacha’s role in Hugo showed off acting skills that most people have not yet been given the chance to see.

A hidden talent of Cohen’s will be exercised in his role as Freddie, by having him potentially sing the original Queen songs himself!

If you are unaware of Sacha’s soft side, be sure to go and see Hugo, now playing in theaters near you!

 

- Samantha Blum, YH Staff