Baron Cohen to play Mercury in film

LONDON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- British actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has been tapped to play late rock icon Freddie Mercury in a new film, its producers said.

Baron Cohen is best known for his outrageous movies "Borat" and "Bruno."

The Daily Telegraph said his upcoming film has the blessing of Mercury's surviving band mates from Queen. It is being written by "The Queen" and "Frost/Nixon" scribe Peter Morgan, and is expected to follow the rock group leading up to its performance at 1985's Live Aid concert.

"Freddie Mercury was an awe-inspiring performer, so with Sacha in the starring role, coupled with Peter'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, which is co-producing the movie, told the newspaper.

Mercury died of AIDS in 1991. He was 45.