Queen guitarist, Brian May, reveals why Sacha Baron Cohen was not a good fit for the role of Freddie Mercury.
"It's quite difficult to talk about because we owe Sacha a lot," May told Classic Rock. "He had so much enthusiasm for the project and it really helped us kick it into the start position. But in the end we felt that his presence in the movie would be very distracting."
May referenced three recent films that Cohen appeared in, The Dictator, Les Miserables, and Hugo, and how his performance in these films were very extravagant, fitting Cohen's character, but not Mercury.
"You have to really suspend that disbelief – the man who plays Freddie, you have to really believe is Freddie," May said. "And we didn't [think] that could really happen with Sacha."
May goes on to explain that they parted ways on good terms and remain friends. He also explained that they had someone new for the role but would not reveal who.
The UK's Express reported that sources close to the film confirmed that Ben Wishaw will be taking over the role of Freddie Mercury.
In a television interview on Friday, Queen drummer, Roger Taylor, said that an actor with the initials BW was the front-runner.
Photo Courtesy of NBC