Sacha Baron Cohen quits lead role in Freddie Mercury biopic

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Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has withdrawn playing Freddie Mercury in a upcoming biopic due to creative differences.

Cohen, best known for his roles as Borat, Ali G and Bruno, had hoped to use his Les Miserables singing voice and remarkable resemblance to play the Queen frontman in a darker, grittier portrayal, one whom was succumbed to AIDS in 1991.

But the filmmakers and the singer’s former bandmates wanted a family-friendly depict of the legendary rocker in upcoming biopic.

Cohen had also brought in a team of writers and directors (Peter Morgan, David Fincher and Tom Hooper) to help develop the film, who according to Deadline.com wish to stay with the project with producers reaching out to find another singing Freddie Mercury lookalike.