The film which all Hollywood has been hotly pursuing is finally on track to be made – it is the Freddie Mercury story, this week announced by GK Films in partnership with Robert De Niro’s and Jane Rosenthal’s Tribeca Productions and Queen Films.
Twice Academy Award Nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan (“The Queen,†“Frost/Nixonâ€), is already at work on the script of the currently untitled film, which will feature Academy Award Nominee Sacha Baron Cohen in the starring role.
Baron Cohen will play the legendary front man of the iconic rock band Queen, and the currently untitled drama will focus on the years leading up to Queen’s appearance at the historic Live Aid concert, 1985, when the band famously took the event by storm.
Production is set to begin in 2011. GK Film’s Graham King said today, “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.â€
Baron Cohen is currently starring in Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo Cabret“, also produced by GK Films. His recent credits have included “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street†and his “Bruno†and “Borat†feature films based on characters from his British TV series “Da Ali G Show.†Baron Cohen was nominated for an Academy Award for his Adapted Screenplay for “Borat†as well as winning the Golden Globe for his performance in the comedy feature. He has also won two BAFTA’s for his work on “Da Ali G Show.†Baron Cohen is currently writing and plans to star in an Untitled/Goat Herder feature film for Paramount Pictures.
Peter Morgan has seen his career go from strength to strength over recent years. In addition to his Academy Award nominated credits he also recently wrote the acclaimed “The Last King of Scotland “starring Forest Whitaker who won the Academy Award for Best Male Actor, â€The Other Boleyn Girl†and “The Damned United†as well as his Emmy nominated TV dramas “The Special Relationship†and “Longford.†His current film “Hereafter†directed by Clint Eastwood is set for its theatrical release through Warner Bros. Pictures following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Queen have sold over 170 million albums and scored countless number one albums and singles around the world including such classics as ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘We are the Champions, ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, ‘Radio Ga Ga’, and, of course, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Queen’s smash hit stage musical “We Will Rock You “ continues to pack the 2,000 seat Dominion Theatre in London’s West End nightly, 9 years after its opening, and with additional productions springing up around the world has now been seen by more than 11 million people.
Sacha Baron Cohen is repped by WmE Entertainment. Peter Morgan is repped by United Talent in the US and Independent Talent Group in the UK.
Finally some valid Queen news. I am psyched for this film, yet I just wish that they would have included the death of Mercury as well. But, hopefully this will just be the first of many films about Queen. I suppose next year they'll start annoucing more of the cast.
Queenzone Ghost wrote: The film which all Hollywood has been hotly pursuing is finally on track to be made – it is the Freddie Mercury story, this week announced by GK Films in partnership with Robert De Niro’s and Jane Rosenthal’s Tribeca Productions and Queen Films.
Twice Academy Award Nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan (“The Queen,†“Frost/Nixonâ€), is already at work on the script of the currently untitled film, which will feature Academy Award Nominee Sacha Baron Cohen in the starring role.
Baron Cohen will play the legendary front man of the iconic rock band Queen, and the currently untitled drama will focus on the years leading up to Queen’s appearance at the historic Live Aid concert, 1985, when the band famously took the event by storm.
Production is set to begin in 2011. GK Film’s Graham King said today, “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.â€
Baron Cohen is currently starring in Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo Cabret“, also produced by GK Films. His recent credits have included “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street†and his “Bruno†and “Borat†feature films based on characters from his British TV series “Da Ali G Show.†Baron Cohen was nominated for an Academy Award for his Adapted Screenplay for “Borat†as well as winning the Golden Globe for his performance in the comedy feature. He has also won two BAFTA’s for his work on “Da Ali G Show.†Baron Cohen is currently writing and plans to star in an Untitled/Goat Herder feature film for Paramount Pictures.
Peter Morgan has seen his career go from strength to strength over recent years. In addition to his Academy Award nominated credits he also recently wrote the acclaimed “The Last King of Scotland “starring Forest Whitaker who won the Academy Award for Best Male Actor, â€The Other Boleyn Girl†and “The Damned United†as well as his Emmy nominated TV dramas “The Special Relationship†and “Longford.†His current film “Hereafter†directed by Clint Eastwood is set for its theatrical release through Warner Bros. Pictures following its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Queen have sold over 170 million albums and scored countless number one albums and singles around the world including such classics as ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘We are the Champions, ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, ‘Radio Ga Ga’, and, of course, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
Queen’s smash hit stage musical “We Will Rock You “ continues to pack the 2,000 seat Dominion Theatre in London’s West End nightly, 9 years after its opening, and with additional productions springing up around the world has now been seen by more than 11 million people.
Sacha Baron Cohen is repped by WmE Entertainment. Peter Morgan is repped by United Talent in the US and Independent Talent Group in the UK.
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'170 million albums' ? - try 300 million
I'm absolutely thrilled about Freddie's movie!!!! Finally! To celebrate the greatest, best, most awesome performer ever to grace the Earth is pure joy!
I was a little skeptical about SBC's ability to capture Freddie's essence, because, after all, they're sending in a mere mortal to do a God's job!
But, I'd feel that way about anyone who's trying to play the GOD OF ROCK. So, I'm just hoping he does a great job, and that Freddie's lovely heart and soul are brought to light, as well as his unmatched talent, charisma, magic, genius, and the passion that was pure Freddie.
It's terribly exciting to have Freddie's memory be honored at last, as well as to have Queen's music exposed to a new generation, and also to remind us all how amazingly brilliant a band they are. Queen has the most eclectic, most innovative, riskiest range of anybody! Over 40 genres!
I hope the writer makes an effort to uncover some of their most precious gems known only to Queen fans. Because one thing is for sure: Queen is so much more than their hits! They are phenomenal! Queen is bold, brazen, beautiful.....THE BEST!!!
And Freddie.......Freddie was the catalyst that catapulted them into the stratosphere of super stardom. He was the force that caught your eye, then your ears, then ripped your heart out with his passionate delivery. Nobody could capture and mesmerize you like Freddie! Nobody!!
From the tenderness of Love Of My Life, the sweetness of Nevermore, to the power of Hammer To Fall, the heart wrenching Save Me, the loveliness of Barcelona, to the miraculous Stone Cold Crazy......Freddie was majestic to the max!
And, it's not enough to simply 'hear' Freddie. You have to Experience him!! Freddie was a visual treat like no other. He didn't just sing a song, he Became the song! His passion poured from him as mellifluously as his gorgeous voice. FREDDIE IS THE GOD OF ROCK!!!!! And will be forever!!
SBC.....Good Luck! Please do Freddie the justice he deserves!
Re: this press release, the only thing worse than gushing sycophantic crap like this, is garbled, gushing sycophantic crap like this. At the moment Queenzone sucks more than Superman eating a Werther's Original.