26 Jul – Comedian-actor Sacha Baron Cohen and former members of the English rock band Queen have failed to reconcile their differences after all, resulting in the actor's departure from the alleged biographical drama film for the band's lead singer, Freddie Mercury. According to Deadline, the "Les Misérables" actor wanted to bring in screenwriter Peter Morgan and either directors David Fincher or Tom Hooper to create an explicit and gritty R-rated film about the troubled life of the iconic singer, but the surviving members insisted that the film should centre on the band and shoot for a PG rating instead. Cohen's withdrawal from the film has surprised many, given the uncanny physical resemblance that the two share and the fact that the 41-year-old actor is the main reason for Morgan's interest in developing the script.
Sony Pictures owns the rights to the film, with Graham King, Tim Headington, Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal as well as Queen Films to produce. Meanwhile, Cohen will next appear in "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" in a yet-to-be-named role.