MovieChat Forums > Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) Discussion > The Sacha Baron Cohen Queen movie idea *...

The Sacha Baron Cohen Queen movie idea cringe

posted 5 years ago by lolkatz (495)
11 replies | jump to latest

So, in talks over the originally planned Sacha Baron Cohen Queen movie, the band members May and Taylor floated the idea to Cohen about a Queen movie that would have the last 50 percent of it dedicated to the surviving band members coping with Freddy's death. Oh God, what a desperate attempt on the part of the band members to grab some spotlight. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but the only thing that made Queen stand out (if it did at all) was their flamboyant and theatrical singer with a really great voice. And that's it. I mean they weren't the Beatles. If you shot a Beatles movie, 50 percent of which would portray Paul McCartney and George Harrison coping with Lennon's assassination, I'd watch it, because both McCartney and Harrison are historically important musicians and interesting individuals in their own right for this hypothetical story to command interest. But Queen was basically an accompanying band to Freddy. Without Freddy they would have been just another corporate rock footnote at best.

[–] QueenFanUSA (3379) 5 years ago

It's F-r-e-d-d-i-e and I guess being considered one of the greatest, innovative and most distintive guitarists of all time doesn't qualify as being "accomplished"?

Also..."if they stood out at all"? You obviously have a low opinion of the band that runs contrary to much of the rest of the world. Just having a "flamboyant and theatrical singer" wouldn't be nearly enough for this band to "stand out" to the tune of over 200 million albums sold worldwide.

Not only did they "stand out", but they are in rarified air.

[–] movieace11 (1339) 5 years ago

I agree with you Queen wasn't all about Freddie. His solo album had far less success, for example.
But I agree with OP that if half of the movie were about the surviving band members coping with his death, it would have been boring as hell.

[–] QueenFanUSA (3379) 5 years ago

Sacha is the only person spinning that yarn. That was never going to be the plot/storyline of the film. I've been following the film's progress since it was first talked about 10 years ago and the only thing I ever read was that it would "end" at Live Aid.

[–] QueenFanUSA (3379) 5 years ago

Plus...that is a tale Sacha Baron Cohen has spun to explain why he "left" the project which the band has vehemently denied.

The reality was that Cohen was intending to turn Freddie into a lurid joke and was dismissed from the project. The band wanted someone that would approach the role with respect and appreciation and SBC clearly had neither.

[–] movieace11 (1339) 5 years ago

Yeah, the similarity in appearance would have been be the only reason to cast him.

[–] QueenFanUSA (3379) 5 years ago

But even there Sacha is way too tall.

[–] QueenFanUSA (3379) 5 years ago

Do you actually think that Graham King, one of the top producers in the film industry, would have gotten behind this project from its inception if Freddie was going to die midway through the film?

[–] illnagas (457) 4 years ago

The band thought so

[–] TMC-4 (20149) 4 years ago

David Fincher Says Sacha Baron Cohen Looked ‘Spectacular’ as Freddie Mercury in Unmade Biopic

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/02/david-fincher-sacha-baron-cohen-freddie-mercury-biopic-1234617368/

[–] AndyKing1967 (38136) 4 years ago

"If you shot a Beatles movie, 50 percent of which would portray Paul McCartney and George Harrison coping with Lennon's assassination, I'd watch it"

What the hell did Ringo ever do to you?

[–] Pete314 (3010) 4 years ago

Ringo passed him by...

The Sacha Baron Cohen Queen movie idea *cringe*

The Sacha Baron Cohen Queen movie idea cringe