The long search for a leading man with the necessary qualities to play Freddie Mercury on screen may finally be over, with reports that the role has at long last been cast.
Deadline reports that ‘Mr Robot’ breakthrough star Rami Malek will play the charismatic Queen frontman in a forthcoming biopic, with Bryan Singer (‘The Usual Suspects’) also in talks to direct. The website reports that filming is set to begin early next year.
Although no official statement has been made, Bryan Singer sent a tweet at the weekend, with a catalogue of tantalising hash-tags.
The project looks in its most promising form yet, following a couple of false starts over the last few years. ‘Borat’ star Sacha Baron Cohen was previously chosen to play Freddie on screen, but left the project - reportedly over disagreements with the remaining Queen members over which direction the narrative should take.
‘London Spy’ actor Ben Whishaw was also in the running, as was writer Peter Morgan (‘The Crown’) and director Dexter Fletcher.
However, it appears producers have finally settled on Rami - whose breakthrough role in ‘Mr Robot’ has already earned him an Emmy Award for Best Actor. The latest script is by Anthony McCarten, who previously penned ‘The Theory of Everything’.
