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Artist News
Baron Cohen dropped from Freddie Mercury biopic for being too funny
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 25 September 2013
Queen drummer Roger Taylor has spoken about the decision to drop Sacha Baron Cohen from a long in production Freddie Mercury biopic, saying that it was feared that the comedian would be too funny in the lead role.
Speaking to Mojo, Taylor said: “We felt Sacha probably wasn’t right in the end. We didn’t want it to be a joke. We want people to be moved”.
As for why it has taken so long to get the film anywhere near being made, he blamed the culture of the film industry, saying: “I thought the music business was slow, but this has been like swimming in treacle”.
On the subject of the music business being slow, Taylor also spoke about the previously reported collaborations between Mercury and Michael Jackson, which were mooted for release earlier this year.
He explained: “Freddie and Michael never finished the songs, because Queen had to leave LA to go on tour. Brian [May] and I had worked on them, which means they’ll come out as Queen And Michael Jackson – hopefully… If the Michael Jackson estate can get its arse into gear”.
