Sacha Baron Cohen to play Mercury

Sacha Baron Cohen, the man known for his comedic turns in films such as Borat, Bruno and more recently The Dictator, has been chosen to play a more serious role: the late Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the iconic rock band Queen.

At first glance, you wouldn’t say that Cohen looks at all like Mercury. But when you look again at the moustache Cohen grew to portray the character of Borat, it does look like Mercury’s famous “magnum” moustache and may have attracted the director’s attention in choosing Cohen for the biopic.

It’s surprising to say the least that Cohen, who is known for his comedy, is going to take on such a serious role.

Hopefully he’ll be able to balance his penchant for comedy with the solemnity that Mercury’s death and other not-so-happy events will bring to the aura surrounding the film.