Huge news about the Freddie Mercury movie

Sacha Baron Cohen was slated to play Queen front man Freddie Mercury, in a movie about the enigmatic rock star's life. Most of us who appreciate Cohen's rich talents were understandably thrilled about the idea of him tackling such an iconic role. Now, it seems, that isn't going to happen.

News broke on July 22, 2013, that Sacha Baron Cohen had opted out of the movie, and that's when the shock waves hit. Cohen signed on to this role three years ago, so what went wrong? Apparently, a lot, according to Deadline's Nikki Finke. None of it is good news. I've got a very bad feeling about the future of this film.

Here's the deal: Sacha Baron Cohen dropped the Freddie Mercury project amid creative differences with Queen. Ah, the dreaded "creative differences" phrase - it's the "irreconcilable differences" of the film world. What it really means is he was really angry/upset/furious about something the powers that be wanted (or didn't want). In this case, Cohen was at odds with the band because, among other things, Queen wanted to make the Mercury film a PG movie. Cohen felt that a "grittier" tale should be told in R-rated form.

It's not just that, either: Sacha Baron Cohen very much wanted to pursue this film on Freddie Mercury's life. So much so that he had several big time directors (think Tom Hooper and David Fincher) come in to help with development. According to Deadline, none of the plans passed muster with Queen.

Given the circumstances, what choice did Cohen really have? The whole thing is so damn ridiculous. Why even bother to make a movie about a rock legend like Freddie Mercury when you want to water down everything and make it all PG? I cannot for the life of me imagine that kind of silliness. Now, the project has lost probably the most credible actor who could possibly play Freddie, and the movie (if it ever comes to pass) is going to be a total joke.

As much as I hate to hear that Sacha Baron Cohen has exited the Freddie Mercury biopic, I applaud him for having the artistic integrity to walk away. I wouldn't want my name associated with a dumbed down, totally over-sanitized movie about one of music's greatest artists ever, either.

Now the question becomes, if this project does move forward, who will play Freddie Mercury now? I honestly can't think of anyone at the moment, and I'm not sure I care anymore.

So much for sex, drugs and rock and roll.

Photo courtesy of Vulture