Sacha Baron Cohen quits Queen film

Sacha Baron Cohen has pulled out of a Freddie Mercury biopic because he reportedly didn’t like the tone the movie was set to take.

The Borat star apparently hoped the film would be a raunchy look at the late Queen singer’s hedonistic lifestyle – while producers were set on something more family friendly.

Mercury’s bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor are backing the film, and have a veto on the script and director.

Cohen had brought in The Queen writer Peter Morgan and various directors including David Fincher and Tom Hooper to develop a script based on Mercury’s rock-and-roll life – but according to Hollywood website Deadline, none found favour with the surviving members of the band.

Baron Cohen is also developing a film called The Lesbian inspired by the true story of Hong Kong billionaire Cecli Chao who offered $65million to any man who could marry his lesbian daughter.

Published: 23 Jul 2013