Former Harry Potter Star Daniel Radcliffe’s name is attached to an upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic according to some reports.
The child star is fast shedding any connections he might have had to playing one of the most iconic characters in movies during the last decades.
We have seen Radcliffe literally grow up before our eyes while he played Harry Potter in the adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s mega series of novels.
Now, Radcliffe, who has admitted that he will never outgrow Harry, is attached to play another iconic personality, this time someone that actually existed, Queen’s flashy and very talented frontman Freddie Mercury.
The role was previously to be brought to life by Sacha Bacon Cohen, who according to reports, pulled out due to “creative differences”.
According to the Daily Star , Radcliffe impressed movie makers with his earlier portrayal of gay poet Allen Ginsburg in the film Kill Your Darlings.
The source adds,
“Plus, he’s closer in height to Freddie than Sacha, who’s much taller. Daniel can really sing, too.”
Daniel Radcliffe has also proved that he can sing and dance when he starred on Broadway playing J Pierpont Finch in the 50th anniversary revival of Frank Loesser’s How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, for which he received rave reviews.
Freddie Mercury
The 24-year-old child prodigy, who is now all grown up is 5 feet 5 inches, which is closer in height to Mercury’s 5 feet 10 inches, than that of Cohen’s much taller frame.
Baron Sacha Cohen’s departure was reportedly because he wanted a “grittier” portrayal of Freddie Mercury, while former band mates Brian May and Roger Taylor wanted the movie to appeal to the masses.
Freddie Mercury is one of the most revered musicians in the UK and was known for his extravagant moves while performing live.
No comment yet from Daniel Radcliffe or his rep on this news. Peter Morgan ( The Queen, Frost/Nixon ) is rumored to write the script and no director has been attached to the project at this time.
