Sacha Baron Cohen Forum

Deadline has broken big news that Sacha Baron Cohen, most famous for playing wacky characters on Da Ali G Show and in his hit films Borat and Bruno, will take on the serious role of playing Freddie Mercury in an upcoming Queen biopic. The script is being written by Peter Morgan ( The Damned United, Frost/Nixon, and, fittingly, The Queen) with no director yet attached. 
 
The story will focus on Queen's beginnings, culminating with the band's show-stealing, landmark performance at Live Aid in 1985. While it currently sounds like it won't specifically be a Freddie Mercury biopic, his role in the band was so integral and crucial that I can only imagine his very unique and dramatic arc will be what carries the film. Morgan has made a great career for himself writing superb period pieces based on real people and events, and I can't think of anyone better suited for what will be THE Queen movie. Along with that, Queen will be licensing their music for the first time to a film about the band, and have formed their own production company, Queen Films, for their involvement in the project. 
 
I don't doubt Cohen's ability to pull this off, either. While he's known for his comedic roles, they are always firmly planted in character, and his strident commitment to those characters is what made them work. Not to mention he very much looks the part. The only real question for me is the singing in the film. This is always a tough one in music pics (see Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story) and I almost feel, given how iconic a voice Mercury's is, that they should just go with real recordings. Time will tell, I suppose, but man, I am going to see the shit out of this.

again: this does look like it'll be a good one.

Yeah, I can see that.

And thank you for another phrase I can steal.

"I'm gunna see the shit of that"

Don't care that much for Queen, but I will check this out since Queen is still part of rock history and in that sense close to my heart. And of course I love bio pics movies about bands even out my general genre.
As for Cohen, I'm fairly certain he can pull this off. Not that I really cared for his 2 latest movies.

I can't decide if this makes no sense, or if it makes perfect sense....

Why are people concerned about his singing?  Have we forgotten his performance in Sweeney Todd?  According to the making of features, he sang most of Fiddler on the Roof for his audition and blew everyone away.  I think this is an inspired choice and will be an amazing piece with some great music.  Perhaps Bohemian Rhapsody will climb the charts yet again thanks to it's inclusion in a movie.

Very much looking forwards to this.

Well the casting seems spot on with this. Should be extraordinary

I am in. I am so fucking in.

Wait, wasn't this news like 3 years ago? I've been hearing about this movie for quite a long time already.

He definitely can look just like Mercury. And Cohen is a decent actor. In the right director this could turn out pretty good.

I can totally see this working.  Who says that Freddie is irreplaceable?  ;)

I like everything about this so far. Actor, screenwriter, topic. I want it, now.

Seeing that Cohen was leading didn't initially have me convinced, but the fact that Peter Morgan is involved has me a lot more interested. That guy is excellent at what he does.

@Phoenix654 said:

" Why are people concerned about his singing?  Have we forgotten his performance in Sweeney Todd?  According to the making of features, he sang most of Fiddler on the Roof for his audition and blew everyone away.  I think this is an inspired choice and will be an amazing piece with some great music.  Perhaps Bohemian Rhapsody will climb the charts yet again thanks to it's inclusion in a movie. "

That actually almost worries me. Like Pope said, I hope they use original recordings. Not because I fear Cohen can't sing, but because Mercury has such an iconic voice, one of the greatest in rock history. One the other hand, Joaquin Phoenix and Jamie Foxx did great work at mimicking 2 other legendary voices, so I guess we'll see.  
 
The best part about this news is the involvement of Peter Morgan. He does excellent work with this kind of material, so I can't wait for this movie.

Oddly enough, I can see it working. I  would imagine that they would use the original recordings though.

Oh, they'll definitely be using the original recordings. Freddie Mercury's voice cannot be topped. It's too iconic.

"Man, I am going to see the shit out of this." Couldn't have said it better myself, Mr. Pope.

I can totally see him as Freddy. I too will see the shit out of this.

I like this bit of casting i think he might be a bit tall but yea i could feel it i like the guy who is writing it so that gives me hoppe