Who can possibly take on the role of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury? That’s a question that has been asked a lot recently, ever since Sacha Baron Cohen departed from the biopic over disagreements with the direction of the film. Baron Cohen reportedly wanted a heavier R-rated take on the frontman’s life, while surviving Queen members are looking more towards the family-friendly angle.
Since Baron Cohen’s departure, rumors have swirled about who will step in to fill his shoes. Now we have another name to add to the list of actors that might play Freddie Mercury, as Dominic Cooper is reportedly circling the project.
Cooper’s name comes up following the more ridiculous rumor that Daniel Radcliffe was in talks to play the part. Radcliffe has since put those rumors to rest, saying that it was never going to happen. Dominic Cooper seems a more likely candidate anyways: he’s the right age, has the right look and, most importantly, might actually have the voice to pull it off. While this is still just a rumor, it seems that the role is likely to go to someone like Cooper – who has had major parts, but is far from being an iconic star – than Radcliffe.
Just what Queen plans to do with the biopic right now is anyone’s guess. Apparently they were concerned that Baron Cohen’s presence would make the story into a ‘joke,’ but there’s also that persistent desire to keep Mercury’s story closer to the PG-13 category. There’s no director yet attached to the biopic, but Peter Morgan (The Queen) has been linked as a screenwriter.
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t hold my breath for a Freddie Mercury biopic any time soon. It seems that Queen have decided to control exactly what shows up on the screen, which doesn’t leave a lot of room for directors or actors to tell their version of the story. Cooper could be a good choice for the lead role, but we’ll have to wait and see what comes of it.
