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[moojito]

Ali G and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen is to play Freddie Mercury in a film about Queen, the rock band's guitarist Brian May has confirmed to the BBC.

Source

Well, I'm not sure how that'll work out. There's a lot of love for Freddie still about, rightly so. I hope he does a decent job of it. I think he might be just the man for the job, from what I've seen of Freddie's personality from interviews from that time (around the live aid concert).

 

[Dresden]

He'll do an awesome job.

 

[demosthenes]

I guess I could see this working.

 

[Drakeon]

Goddamn, he certainly looks the part.

 

[Davidion]

This could be a REALLY interesting take.

 

[ChackanKun]

NOBODY looks like Freddie ^^

But yes, he does resemble him.

 

[andycapps]

Not sure if interested.

 

[Garou]

 

[PantherLotus]

I think this could be really, really good. If they're going for the "Heath Ledger?!" moment, they won't get it, because, well, Heath Ledger ruined every possible version of "no way he can pull that off" for every questionably weird casting decisions for major roles.

 

[sixteen-bit]

it could work

 

[SimleuqiR]

This reminds me...I have to put some more Queen tunes into my phone.

:::shit, internet radio at the office playing "We Will Rock You" as I type:::

 

[Equus Bellator Apex]

Intresting.

 

[Darth Pinche]

NICE!

 

[Vinci]

I like the guy, but I like Mercury more. Don't fuck it up, Sacha.

 

[Medalion]

Great success!

 

[Majine]

Great success!

Stole my line

 

[cory64]

So awesome!

 

[lunarworks]

But can he sing?

 

[Guevara]

He's paid his dues, time after time. He's done his sentence but committed no crime.

And bad mistakes he's made a few. He's had his share of sand kicked in his face but he's always come through.

And I hope to see him go on and on and on and on

 

[SimleuqiR]

But can he sing?

What would you like to hear Cohen or Mercury?

I rather they dub Cohen.

 

[Mad_Ban]

He certainly resembles him enough to do the job.

This will be very interesting to follow.

<3 Queen

 

[Majine]

But can he sing?

Well ofcourse

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

I approve of the choice. Looks the part and I have faith in his acting abilities.

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

I'm sure he'll do a good job.

 

[UnluckyKate]

Will he sing ? Or the movie will keep Mercury's original performances ?

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

Will he sing ? Or the movie will keep Mercury's original performances ?

That would be cool if they edited in some of the live performance.

 

[lethial]

Will he sing ? Or the movie will keep Mercury's original performances ?

Would be neat if he did. He belted a few tunes in that crappy Tim Burton movie.

 

[andymcc]

But can he sing?

very well, actually.

 

[krypt0nian]

Quite interested.

 

[rollingstart]

What would you like to hear Cohen or Mercury?

I rather they dub Cohen.

That stuff is terrible 99% of the time. Cohen should do the singing himself. Will it be as good as Freddie? hell no. No human alive can match Freddie Mercury's singing voice. I don't think anyone watching the movie will be going to listen to Queen's original music. It's better to have a consistent movie where you can believe the actor is the person.

 

[HiResDes]

very well, actually.

Didn't you see Sweeney Todd...Dude can do anything. He's amazing.

 

[shintoki]

Could work, I love Mercury and I have no particular disdain for Cohen. Should be interesting at the very least.

 

[Brinbe]

Love Queen, will fucking watch.

 

[megashock5]

Could work, I love Mercury and I have no particular disdain for Cohen. Should be interesting at the very least.

THIS.

 

[Invisible Man]

Can't wait! Been waiting for this movie and glad they picked the right guy to play Freddie.

 

[parasight]

Nailed it. I think Cohen's going to be great in this. Looks the part, and I'd wager he's got the acting chops to pull it off very well.

 

[celebi23]

Didn't you see Sweeney Todd...Dude can do anything. He's amazing.

Shit, I forgot he was in that :lol

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

I feel like this is old news? At least I remember it in rumor form from a long time ago.

 

[WyndhamPrice]

That is an inspired choice and I am really looking forward to this project.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

great choice, definitely interested in seeing this.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

I feel like this is old news? At least I remember it in rumor form from a long time ago.

So I did a smidgen of research. Seems this was a rumor three and a half years ago.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1558875/20070504/story.jhtml

May 4 2007 8:51 PM EDT
Sacha Baron Cohen Won't Play Freddie Mercury In Queen Biopic
'Borat' actor was rumored to portray late frontman, but publicist tells MTV News that reports are 'absolutely untrue.'

EDIT: Google News also sees this rumor going back at least as far as January 2007. That article isn't in English, but it's definitely referencing The Mirror.

 

[Bentendo]

This will be the third time (that I know of) that Cohen plays a gay guy.

 

[RustyNails]

FUCK YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! Been waiting forever for this rumor to come true.

Simply cannot wait to see SBC's performance as Freddie Mercury on stage. I'm not sure if he will be able to exactly recreate Freddie's voice. The fans will butcher him if he deviates one note. It's a tremendous challenge, but we'll see how it goes.

This will be the third time (that I know of) that Cohen plays a gay guy.

Freddie was a Bi, as far as I know.

Edit: NOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[LQX]

Jake Gyllenhaal could probably pull it off better if able to do a good British accent.

 

[Staccat0]

The only thing most of GAF cares about when it comes to casting:
Does this person look like that person?

EDIT: I have no idea if this is a good casting or not, btw. Never seen Cohen play someone who wasn't a cartoon.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Simply cannot wait to see SBC's performance as Freddie Mercury on stage. I'm not sure if he will be able to exactly recreate Freddie's voice. The fans will butcher him if he deviates one note. It's a tremendous challenge, but we'll see how it goes.

Is it really necessary that he does? Most singing I see in movies uses a different voice than the actor. I mean, if Michael J. Fox isn't expected to sing as well as fictional nobody Marty McFly, should we really expect Sacha Baron Cohen to match one of music's most well-known voices? Surely there's a lot of recorded audio material for them to work with.

 

[Buckethead]

Jake Gyllenhaal could probably pull it off better if able to do a good British accent.

notsureifserious.gif

The only thing most of GAF cares about when it comes to casting:
Does this person look like that person?

:lol Basically, right?

 

[(._.)]

Consider me interested in how this plays out.

 

[MisterAnderson]

I remember hearing about this a long time ago but I thought nothing ever happened with the project. So excited about this, perfect casting.

 

[-NeoTB1-]

I'll reserve judgment. I'm not a SBC fan, but I love Queen. Don't screw this up!