Sacha Baron Cohen Departs Freddie Mercury Biopic

According to Deadline, Sacha Baron Cohen has walked away from the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic due creative differences.

Cohen, who's just of of the Oscar-winning film adaptation of LES MISERABLES, has been attached to the project since 2010, when the remaining members of Queen first began hunting for a screenwriter and director. Cohen approached Tom Hooper and David Fincher earlier this year to helm the film, detailing the lead singer's life, but Mercury's former bandmaters wouldn't sign off on either taking the reins.

Deadline notes that Cohen was adamant about taking the film in a "gritty R-rated tell-all" direction, following the honest events of Mercury's life, while the bandmates wanted a cleaner version that centered around Queen itself.

For the original report, head on over to Deadline.

As of now, there's no word on what steps Sony Pictures and GK Films will take in order to move on with the film.

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