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Former Queen bassist John Deacon has distanced himself from the Freddie Mercury biopic movie starring Ben Wishaw, stating that he "doesn't want" anything to do with the project or any new material from the band.
Deacon has kept his distance from the band for the last 15 years, appearing live with them for the final time in 1997. He also missed their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, May's performance at the Olympics' closing ceremony and chose to sit out the band's tour with Paul Rodgers. May commenting on the subject to The Guardian, said that while they haven't fallen out, John chooses to remain isolated and that is a decision that he respects.
While Deacon has stated that he absolutely 'doesn't want to' be involved with new Queen material and the Freddie Mercury biopic headed by Ben Wishaw, he has approved the script. The biopic was seemingly falling apart following the departure of lead Sacha Baron Cohen, however it seems to be gaining momentum again following Baron's replacement.
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"He's a great actor and he's exactly the right kind've material, because he's not that well known a face yet but he's of international stature," May said of Wishaw. "The script depicts Freddie in a very lifelike way, but in the context of Queen, which was a kind of family. So it's about what happens in families, in a sense, and I think people will find it very touching."
As for new Queen material, it's looking very hopeful as musicians have laid down backing tracks for some of Mercury's vocal takes, some of which include Michael Jackson. "There's something coming," May said. "The album may turn out to be a mixture of some unusual things from the past and some very unusual things which no one has heard at all."
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