Mr. Robot star Rami Malek transforms into Freddie Mercury channeling iconic Live Aid look for Queen biopic
The film will track the band's formation in 1970, all the way to their iconic Live Aid performance in 1985
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If the first look at Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody is anything to go by, Rami Malek is the perfect choice to play Freddie Mercury.
Entertainment Weekly revealed a first look at the star as Queen's radical, flamboyant frontman; here, he's clearly channelling Mercury's look from the 1985 Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, often regarded as Queen's greatest single live performance.
There's certainly a transformative aspect to the role, even if the biggest change is just the addition of Mercury's iconic moustache. But to Malek, "When you’re able to open your eyes and see a different person staring back at you in the mirror, it’s a very affirming moment."
Directed by Bryan Singer, Bohemian Rhapsody is set to chronicle the rise of Queen from 1970, when Mercury first teamed with Brian May and Roger Taylor, up until the band's Live Aid performance; notably cutting the film short, six years before Mercury died of complications from AIDs.
This was a very deliberate choice by Singer, who didn't want the film to be a "traditional biopic", but a celebration of Queen's music; "It won't just be the dark Freddie story, but that being said, that also will be honored".
Of course, what's bound to be even more highly scrutinised than Malek's look, is Malek's voice. The film will actually combine Malek's voice, recordings of Mercury, and a sound alike to achieve the finished product.
"We’re going to use Freddie as much as possible and use myself as much as possible," Malek stated. "I’m in Abbey Road [Studios] right now if that should say anything to you. I’m not working on my acting."
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