The long anticipated and stalled Queen film is on track for a Christmas-time release, with X-Men director Bryan Singer at the helm, and Rami Malek playing Freddie Mercury.
Related: 20-plus rare photos reveal a hidden side of Freddie Mercury that his fans never saw
Singer announced that Malek, who won an Emmy for his role in USA’s Mr. Robot, would star in the film via Instagram last year:
Now Entertainment Weekly has released the first image of Malek as the legendary Mercury, and if we’re going on looks along, this is pretty air-tight:
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But Malek’s, and the film’s, success will be measured on far more than overall aesthetic.
Related: A Freddie Mercury biopic that doesn’t mention AIDS? Really?
Sacha Baron Cohen had been attached to play Mercury, but left the project, saying the surviving members of Queen were not interested in his desire to do a “warts and all” depiction of the singer’s life, including the “debauchery.”
The script comes from Anthony McCarten, the author of the Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything. Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor will serve as music producers.
Donston
So, they’re gonna treat Freddie as if he were a perfectly stable-minded angel who lived a simple life? And it’s directed by Bryan Singer of all people? Yeah, this will have to get damn good reviews in order for me to bother checking it out.
WeHoGuy69
We’ll alert the trades.
Donston
I figured that would be the (basic) response. Kinda walked it that one though.
John
I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t mention AIDS at all.
Jaxton
I hope Freddie isn’t Bryan Singered.
Xzamilloh
Oh, it’s true… Freddie got Singered
RomanHans
No chest hair? Why not have Keira Knightly play Dolly Parton too?
CarrieV
@RomanHans
YES! That was the fist thing I noticed too.
Give this boy a neck-high merkin!
david-tullis
I, for one, am very much looking forward to this film.
Jimmy T
Are they dubbing in Adam Lambert vocals? They should have had Lambert grow a mustache and get the appropriate haircut, and that would have been a more authentic choice for playing Mercury. I’d bet he would have been great.
pattygale
I’m diehard Adam fan, solo or with Queen, but glad he’s not playing Freddie. First of all, he’s had a few acting gigs and they’ve been great, but too much riding on this for a novice. Not only that, Adam is not big on lot of skin, Freddie was. Adam’s a big guy, 6’1″, broad chested (rumored to have 3 lungs?) Freddie was not. I trust Brian’s and Roger’s discretion. They adore Adam and if they thought it was a good move, he’d be playing the part.
As far as wanting to keep Freddie’s image PG-13, no opinion, but I was appalled that Cohen might play the part. Everything he does is overdone and all about him. Glad they parted company.