Untitled biopic finally moving forward…
British actor-turned-helmer Dexter Fletcher (‘Sunshine on Leith,’ ‘Wild Bill’) has signed on to take the director’s chair for the long-in-development biopic of legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
With Ben Whishaw (‘Skyfall,’ ‘Perfume: The Story of a Murderer’) attached to portray Mercury, the film will focus on Queen’s formative years; leading up to the British rock band’s heralded appearance at Live Aid in 1985. Mercury died of complications from AIDS in 1991.
Peter Morgan (‘The Queen’) penned the latest draft of the screenplay. The untitled film will feature many of the band’s hit, including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions,’ ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ and ‘You’re My Best Friend.’
Graham King’s GK Films is producing, with Tim Headington and Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal’s Tribeca Productions, and Queen Films co-producing.