Freddie Mercury Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody in trouble? Production 'HALTED' mid-shoot
2OTH CENTURY FOX has officially stopped production on the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, starring Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury.
It's taken seven long years to get this far, but the movie has ground to a sudden halt.
The biopic was announced in 2010 with the backing of original Queen members Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor but they parted ways with the original star playing Freddie Mercury, Sasha Baron Cohen, over "creative differences" in 2013.
After Ben Whishaw entered and then left the role, Mr Robot star Rami Malek was confirmed to play the legendary rock frontman. Gwilym Lee, Joe Mazzello and EastEnders star Ben Hardy will play May, Deacon and Taylor, respectively.
Filming has been taking place in London, but the crew just received official notice that the entire production was being immediately halted.
It seems the movie's path to the big screen continues to be even more dramatic than the life of its iconic leading man.
This time, it is not problems regarding the leading man, but the director.
The rather mysterious official statement said: "Twentieth Century Fox Film has temporarily halted production on Bohemian Rhapsody due to the unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer."
FOX
the look on Brian May's face watching Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury just made me feel emotional pic.twitter.com/mctxyKYf3t
— Jett Rink (@jessiekaiser) September 12, 2017
The Hollywood Reporter said: "Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Singer failed to return to set after the Thanksgiving holiday break, leaving producers nervous about the state of the production and talking about potentially replacing him.
"However, sources say that filming on the biopic has not been easy. For example, insiders tell THR that producers and his star had grown tired of Singer's behavior, which saw him routinely show up late to set. Another source has said that a cinematographer had to step in and direct during a previous 'non-showing.'"
Although the studio did not explain further, a representative for the director told the BBC that Singer had been dealing with "a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family."
The follows the dramatic exit of Zack Snyder earlier this year from the troubled Justice League movie after the sudden death of his daughter.
THR notes that Fox may have a reason to be particularly concerned over Singer's.
It added: "This is not first time that Singer has disappeared during a production. He momentarily vanished during the shooting of X-Men: Apocalypse and during Superman Returns."
BOHEMIOAN RHAPSODY IS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE ON DECEMBER 25, 2018
