Freddie Mercury Biopic in jeopardy with departure of Sacha Baron Cohen

With Sacha Baron Cohen's announcement that he was leaving the production of the Freddie Mercury biopic screenwriter Peter Morgan has told the BBC that the film will "probably not . . . happen."

Cohen clashed with Queen members Roger Taylor and Brian May over the movie with the actor wanting a "gritty R-rated tell-all" while the band "wanted to make more of a PG movie."

Cohen had also brought in David Fincher, Tom Hooper and others to develop the project, but none had been approved by May and Taylor. No director has been attached to the picture.

Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender – Director’s Cut

Film-maker Rhys Thomas's full-length director's cut of his film exploring the solo career and private life of  Freddie Mercury  can be seen on BBC4 on Saturday 29th December at 21:00. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes 

Renowned as the bravura front man of one of Britain's greatest rock bands, Freddie Mercury's life outside Queen is rarely celebrated or explored. This film explores Mercury's solo projects and interests, including a previously unheard collaboration with Michael Jackson and the triumphant Barcelona project with Dame Montserrat Caballe as well as the life of a gay man who was not yet publicly out.

Rare interviews reveal a shy man in search of love, and a driven artist living behind the protection of his stage persona.

Film about Queen’s Freddie Mercury confirmed

Great news for followers of the Queen musical We Will Rock You.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the rock group Queen (they formed in London in 1971) and drummer Roger Taylor has just confirmed on the Chris Evans breakfast show that a BBC documentary is being produced and a Hollywood film is definitely being made about Freddie Mercury with Sasha Baron Cohen playing the rock legend and Queen doing the music. 

Shooting is scheduled to start in October.