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Actor Ben Whishaw has been confirmed to play Queen legend Freddie Mercury in the much-delayed biopic.
According to reliable sources in the movie world, Whishaw has reportedly signed on to play the iconic Queen frontman following Sacha Baron Cohen's departure from the project, with rumours of a disagreement with band members over the tone and direction of the movie.
Dexter Fletcher will direct the movie, which has been penned by screenwriter Peter Morgan. The biopic will focus on Freddie Mercury's time in Queen during the seventies, and culminating in the band's legendary Live Aid performance in 1985. No release date has been announced.
Speaking to Classic Rock magazine in October 2013, Queen guitarist Brian May spoke of his concerns over Baron Cohen's presence in the film, claiming his celebrity status would detract from Mercury's story.
May hit back at "sensationalist" claims over a falling out between Baron-Cohen and the band but that he and drummer Roger Taylor did feel that the actor's high profile could prove "distracting".
He told the magazine that it was difficult to talk about their time working with Sacha Baron Cohen, adding: "He had so much enthusiasm for the project and it really helped us kick it into the start position. But in the end we felt that his presence in the movie would be very distracting."
Below: the 10 British actors who were in the running to play Freddie Mercury
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