Freddie Mercury Biopic is Happening But Will Omit AIDS Crisis?

Talk about a project with buzz around it! The Freddie Mercury/Queen biopic has been struggling to get off the ground since initial rumors about it years ago. In fact, the film has struggled with a revolving door when it’s come down to it’s writers and directors who easily have come and gone!

Yesterday, Queen confirmed the film is “finally happening” with Rami Malek attached to star as Freddie Mercury. Bryan Singer, the man that brought us the X-Men franchise films, is set to direct. In 2013, Sasha Baron Cohen was cast as Freddie Mercury, ultimately dropping out due to creative differences. Cohen had been linked to the project since 2010. Despite dropping out as star, Cohen continued to work on the film by bringing in screenwriters and filmmakers, such as David Fincher and Tom Hooper. They, too, did not last long with the project.

Cohen was quoted at the time, saying:

At the end of the day it really was an artistic difference.”

Apparently, the creative differences seem to stem from the surviving members of Queen who wanted a smaller spotlight on their famed lead singer. In an interview with Howard Stern last year, Cohen stated:

[When Queen intervened] it was less interesting a movie. You’ve got to remember, and I understand it – they are a band, they want to protect their legacy as a band… they want it to be about Queen. And I fully understand that.”

Oh, okay!

It’s now being reported that the film will even omit the AIDS crisis. To be honest, we’re a little confused as to how this will be possible. Mercury died from bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS in 1991 which was monumental and heartbreaking at the time. Could it be that new director, Bryan Singer, understood the band’s vision and ran with it?

It seems like time marches on as the surviving members of Queen released a statement just a few days ago:

Rami [Malek] has great presence and he’s utterly dedicated to the project. He’s completely living and breathing Freddie already, which is wonderful,”

It’s also been said that good things come to those who wait. Time will ultimately tell with this project. Malek is a great actor with skill but is he enough to play one of the most infamous and iconic singers of all time? We think so and will be waiting with baited breath for when the teaser trailer comes out!