Film on Freddie

"Queen is one of the greatest rock bands of all time... Freddie Mercury was an awe-inspiring performer so with Sacha Baron Cohen in the starring role coupled with Peter Morgan’s screenplay and the support of Queen, we have the perfect combination to tell the real story behind their success,” a spokesman for GK Films was quoted by Giovanna De Gennaro writing on the Freddie Mercury film that commences production this year. The year 2011 coincides with the 20th death anniversary of Queen’s front man Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara).

GK Films is partnering with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal’s Tribeca Productions and Queen Manager Jim Beach to focus on the 1970s-80s classic rock band’s golden years of glory and fame. The biopic which has yet to be titled is being written by Morgan, author of The Last King of Scotland.

Farrokh Bulsara (left) and the model of Freddie Mercury (alongside) draws crowds

Last year, flamboyant Mercury emerged as the "Greatest Rock Legend of all Time” in a survey conducted by OnePoll.com among 3,000 rock fans defeating favorites like Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Jon Bon Jovi and Jimi Hendrix who followed him in popularity. "Freddie Mercury had it all, the voice, the image, the stage presence, everything,” commented a spokesman for OnePoll.com Born in Zanzibar in 1946, Bulsara formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. They were later joined by bass player John Deacon. But as was universally acknowledged, "He was Queen and he was the driving force behind them. He was idolized around the world by millions of fans and his legend will live on forever. He combined his ear for music with an ability to deliver to stadium audiences and as such millions were devastated when HIV finally killed him in 1991.” During his lifetime he is known to have sold 300 million records.

Always able to draw crowds, over a year ago a large model of Mercury wearing a tartan was put on display in the center of Edinburgh as publicity for a run of We Will Rock You at the Playhouse Theatre.