The Freddie Mercury bio is just one of two Queen films in pre-development. The other is We Will Rock You, a “jukebox musical” featuring the songs of Queen. Sounds like Cohen would be a welcome addition to that project as well, albeit in a more Bruno/Borat fashion.

Cohen is widely considered to be an inspired choice both in terms of appearance, and a penchant for showmanship. The role of Freddie Mercury will require a particularly fearless actor, and Cohen has shown through his groundbreaking comedy that he fits the bill. Further, Freddie Mercury costumes will seem downright modest when compared to the garb Cohen often finds himself wearing.

Despite Mercury being such a huge star in his era, later generations know very little of the influential rocker/showman. Consequently, this film could be viewed as essential viewing to anyone with a fondness for pop music over the past 30 years, which, let’s face it, is pretty much everyone. (/Film)

Sacha Baron Cohen has signed on to play Queen front man Freddie Mercury in an upcoming biopic, Deadline is reporting. The film will be written by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen), and will be financed by GK Films, in conjunction with several other companies including Queen Films, which is made up of the surviving members of Queen. Production will begin in 2011.

Will Cohen be able to pull off the flamboyantly gay showman that was Freddie Mercury? Considering his character of Brüno makes Mercury look like Pat Robinson, I’m assuming he’ll do just fine. In fact, if my understanding of Mercury is accurate, it will be a lot like the Brüno movie, except instead of being Austrian he’ll be British, and instead of having a happy ending he’ll die of AIDS. Basically Brüno meets Philadelphia.