Action This Day: Queen/Freddie Mercury Film Confirmed

Something of a departure here, as it’s related to music, but not music-related, per se…

Rumors have abounded for years that, in the wake of such successful biopics as Walk The Line and Ray, there would be one on the life of Freddie Mercury, enigmatic and larger-than-life frontman for Queen. Speaking as a one-time Queen fan who now listens to them only occasionally (writing a book about them burned me out on them) (what up, cheap plug), this is good news, because Mercury’s life deserves to be told, and, with the right script, could do wonders for Queen’s cred in the music world. Just look at the massive record sales and insurgence of interest in Johnny Cash’s and Ray Charles’s posthumous careers!

KING AND QUEEN TEAM UP WITH TRIBECA PRODUCTIONS TO MAKE FREDDIE MERCURY FILM
PETER MORGAN TO WRITE THE SCREENPLAY
SACHA BARON COHEN TO STAR AS FREDDIE

The film which all Hollywood has been hotly pursuing is finally on track to be made – it is the Freddie Mercury story, this week announced by GK Films in partnership with Robert De Niro’s and Jane Rosenthal’s Tribeca Productions and Queen Films.

Twice Academy Award Nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan (“The Queen,” “Frost/Nixon”), is already at work on the script of the currently untitled film, which will feature Academy Award Nominee Sacha Baron Cohen in the starring role.

Baron Cohen will play the legendary front man of the iconic rock band Queen, and the currently untitled drama will focus on the years leading up to Queen’s appearance at the historic Live Aid concert, 1985, when the band famously took the event by storm.

Production is set to begin in 2011. GK Film’s Graham King said today, “Queen is one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and a music brand all unto itself. Freddie Mercury was an awe-inspiring performer, so with Sacha in the starring role coupled with Peter’s screenplay and the support of Queen, we have the perfect combination to tell the real story behind their success.”

Baron Cohen is currently starring in Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo Cabret“, also produced by GK Films. His recent credits have included “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and his “Bruno” and “Borat” feature films based on characters from his British TV series “Da Ali G Show.” Baron Cohen was nominated for an Academy Award for his Adapted Screenplay for “Borat” as well as winning the Golden Globe for his performance in the comedy feature. He has also won two BAFTA’s for his work on “Da Ali G Show.” Baron Cohen is currently writing and plans to star in an Untitled/Goat Herder feature film for Paramount Pictures.

Peter Morgan has seen his career go from strength to strength over recent years. In addition to his Academy Award nominated credits he also recently wrote the acclaimed “The Last King of Scotland “starring Forest Whitaker who won the Academy Award for Best Male Actor, ”The Other Boleyn Girl” and “The Damned United” as well as his Emmy nominated TV dramas “The Special Relationship” and “Longford.” His current film “Hereafter” directed by Clint Eastwood is set for its theatrical release through Warner Bros. Pictures following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Queen have sold over 170 million albums and scored countless number one albums and singles around the world including such classics as ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘We are the Champions, ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, ‘Radio Ga Ga’, and, of course, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

Queen’s smash hit stage musical “We Will Rock You “ continues to pack the 2,000 seat Dominion Theatre in London’s West End nightly, 9 years after its opening, and with additional productions springing up around the world has now been seen by more than 11 million people.

Sacha Baron Cohen is repped by WmE Entertainment. Peter Morgan is repped by United Talent in the US and Independent Talent Group in the UK.