The Freddie Mercury biopic has been through some choppy development waters as it heads to our screens, with talent both in front of and behind the camera attached and then gone. Now there is a pleasant surprise to report, with word that Sunshine On Leith**’s Dexter Fletcher has made a deal to direct, with Ben Whishaw locked in as Mercury.
GK Films’ Graham King has been trying to get this one made for years, staying the course even as Sacha Baron Cohen became involved, only to part company with the project over a dispute with the surviving members of Queen about the tone of the film. Cohen’s Les Miserables director Tom Hooper was briefly associated with the film and since Cohen left, even Daniel Radcliffe was rumoured to be involved, a suggestion the actor himself shot down.
Now, however, Fletcher, who also made the cracking Wild Bill as his directing debut, is the man for the gig, having had several meetings with Brian May and the rest of Queen to start figuring out how to tackle the film. It will focus on the formative years of the band and culminating with the famous, stadium-rocking performance at 1985’s Live Aid event. Whishaw could potentially be a great choice as Freddie, and Fletcher’s presence gives us that much more hope for something special. You can hear his entertaining chat with our Pod-team below.