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Sacha Baron Cohen to Play Freddie Mercury

Musical biopics are the latest craze: Films depicting Jeff Buckley, Marvin Gaye, and Joey Ramone, among many others, are currently in the works. Another of particular interest has recently cast its lead role. Sacha Baron Cohen, the hirsute and comical actor from faux-doc blockbuster Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, has signed to on to portray flamboyant Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in a forthcoming yet-to-be titled film, the U.K.’s Mirror reports.

Cohen, 35, reportedly nudged out Johnny Depp for the role, which will depict Mercury’s music, wild lifestyle, and untimely death in 1991 at the age of 45, due to an AIDS-related illness. “Film makers are working flat out to get the best possible script,” an unidentified source told the Mirror. “Sacha loves the idea he can get away with playing Freddie after modeling Borat’s look on him.” But tickling our thinker is who will be cast to play the part of Queen axeman Brian May and shred out his mountainous rock solos. Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother’s got the hair…

On the Web:
queenonline.com

Talk: Does Cohen have what it takes to pull off a serious role?