Legendary rockers Queen are believed to have rejected the casting of Ali G actor Sacha Baron Cohen as Freddie Mercury because they believed he was too funny to star as the music icon.
It had previously been reported that Cohen had departed the movie due to a disagreement with the 'We Will Rock You' band, and now the band's drummer, Roger Taylor has spoken of the bands misgivings at the casting of the comedian.
"We felt Sacha probably wasn't right. We didn't want it to be a joke. We want people to be moved," Taylor tells The Sun newspaper. He also added that the biopic was now unlikey to happen at all, revealing that the band were now distancing themselves from the project.
"I thought the music business was slow, but this has been like swimming in treacle," he added. "We need to step back now."
After Cohen left the planned movie, it was reported that Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe was set to play Mercury by tabloid sources. “Daniel has been told the part is his if he wants it," a source told The Daily Star. "Despite his youth, Daniel impressed movie bosses with his portrayal of gay poet Allen Ginsburg in this year’s movie Kill Your Darlings."
They added: "Plus, he’s closer in height to Freddie than Sacha, who’s much taller. Daniel can really sing, too."
Below: inspired by Freddie Mercury - 13 artists we'd be without
