Another one bites the dust… It would seem that ambitious plans to mount a Freddie Mercury biopic are being continually undone by that pesky phrase “creative differences.” It was the reason Sacha Baron Cohen, first chosen to take on the lead role, bailed on the project and now, the film’s director has left the movie, after just three months on job.
Deadline reports that Dexter Fletcher, who first boarded the movie in December, has exited the production. The reason is a clash of vision over the R-rated movie, which will track Queen’s rise all the way to their gig at Live Aid in 1985 but will not focus on Mercury’s death or last days. The Peter Morgan (“The Queen“) penned film was in “soft pre-production” but will now have to find someone to step in fast, if producers want to keep a summer shoot scheduled in place. And they’ll have to because the window of opportunity for current star Ben Whishaw is limited, as he is due to start shooting the next Bond film after.
So, who should step in? Share your suggestions below and let us know if you think this movie will do Mercury and the band justice.