Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has been chosen to play Freddie Mercury in a new movie, which will be in theatres in 2011.
There was news about a Freddie Mercury movie in the works a few years ago and at that time, it was Johnny Depp who was the main actor being rumored for the part.Sacha Baron Cohen’s name had also come up at the time, but no actor had been firmly decided for the part at that time.
Robert De Niro’s Tribeca productions will be a co-producer for the film.
Freddie Mercury was one of rock’s greatest icons of all time.
He was the lead singer, a song writer, and pianist for the English rock group, Queen.
Freddie Mercury was known for his soaring, powerful vocals with over a four-octave range and his flamboyant and dynamic stage presence.
As a songwriter, Mercury composed many hits for Queen, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and We are the Champions.
Freddie was also a great dancer. The way I see it, Mercury was like a music machine, amazing rhythm with beautiful line.
Mercury had taken ballet classes, so his performances were not only full of energy and power and emotion, but with this amazing musicality along with balletic lines while performing, and with sense of humor.
Freddie Mercury’s looks and personality was like a chameleon, frequently changing his looks and his persona.
He once said
“ I wake up different everyday, because it’s boring to always be the same, I don’t want to be the same person everyday. “
And Sacha Baron Cohen’s acting career has been like a chameleon, completely immersing himself into his roles.
This could be one of the reasons he was chosen for the part.
Sasha Baron Cohen
And I’ve read that Brian May ( Queen’s guitarist ) was one of those who chose him.
Is Sacha Baron Cohen capable of portraying Freddie Mercury’s immense talent ?
We will find out.
I don’t expect anyone can perfectly be like Mercury, because it’s impossible, but Sasha Baron Cohen looks to be an energetic person and from what I’ve heard, he seems to be a fan of Mercury and Queen.
We will find out.
I don’t expect anyone can perfectly be like Mercury, because it’s impossible, but Sasha Baron Cohen looks to be an energetic person and from what I’ve heard, he seems to be a fan of Mercury and Queen.
So he may know a lot about Mercury and I think it‘s good to choose someone who is a fan of him.
For charisma, I feel Johnny Depp has more, but for energy, Sasha Baron Cohen looks like has more.
Compared with many of Freddie Mercury’s fans, I’m a short time fan and unfortunately never had the chance to watch Mercury’s live performance.
Ray is a long time Queen music fan since he was 14 and went to a Queen concert in Belgium when he was 15.
We both love their early years music and I also prefer Freddie’s looks when he was in his 20’s, with long hair, without moustache and with thinner body.For charisma, I feel Johnny Depp has more, but for energy, Sasha Baron Cohen looks like has more.
Compared with many of Freddie Mercury’s fans, I’m a short time fan and unfortunately never had the chance to watch Mercury’s live performance.
Ray is a long time Queen music fan since he was 14 and went to a Queen concert in Belgium when he was 15.
Because it looked more artistic when he was performing with his ballet poses.
The movie, as of yet still untitled, will focus on the legendary group’s early years and will finish with their performance at 1985’s ‘Live Aid’, which is considered one of the greatest rock performances of all-time.
Peter Morgan, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter , who previously wrote scripts for the movies "The Last King of Scotland," "The Queen" and " Frost/Nixon" is writing the screenplay.
GK Films is producing the movie with Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions.
GK Films executive Graham King said the following in a statement,
"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."
Queen guitarist Brian May, made the following statement,
"We have Sacha Baron Cohen, which will probably be a shock to a lot of people, but he's been talking with us for a long time. He has been in on this project since we started talking about it seriously a couple of years ago,"
said May, who added that neither he nor Roger Taylor nor John Deacon, the other surviving members of the group, would appear in front of the camera. They will, however, direct the music.
Queen’s performance at the 1985 “ Live Aid “ show was a dramatic 21-minute set in front of a global television audience numbering hundreds of millions.
The performance was recently voted the greatest ever live show.
Article: Sasha Baron Cohen to play Freddie Mercury
My favorite of Queen’s music are
* Don’t stop me now
* Killer Queen
* Love of my life
* Fat bottomed girls
* I’m going slightly mad
* Another one bites the dust
* Radio Ga Ga
* 39
* We are the champions
* Bohemian Rhapsody
* Show must go on
* I want it all
Ray has several of Queen’s biographies , and It was very interesting to read about all the members stories, biographies, how they met each other, how Freddie acted with Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon, etc... and It was fun to picture each member’s character.
We will definitely watch it and look forward to see how Sasha Baron Cohen will perform.