Sacha Baron Cohen to play Freddie Mercury in new flick

Borat star to take on new role as Queen front man

Sacha Baron Cohen LL
Sacha Baron Cohen LL
(Image credit: Press Association)

Borat star to take on new role as Queen front man

Ali G star Sacha Baron Cohen will take on a new role as Queen front man Freddie Mercury in a new film about the band.

The Borat funnyman, who is married to Australian actress Isla Fisher, will join the cast when filming starts next year.

‘We have Sacha Baron Cohen, which will probably be a shock to a lot of people, but he's been talking with us for a long time,’ Queen guitarist Brian May told the BBC’s HARDtalk show.

Despite announcing that he will look after the music used in the film along with Queen drummer Roger Taylor, May added: ‘I think we'll try and keep ourselves out of it as much as we can.’

Peter Morgan, who worked on Frost/Nixon and The Queen, is writing the screenplay for the movie which will concentrate on the lead up to 1985’s Live Aid concert.

The flick will be co-produced by Tribeca - Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal's company.

The Borat star and his wife are reported to have had another baby this month, after being spotted pushing a pram around London – but the super-secret pair are yet to confirm their new addition to the family.

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