OK, let's set the record straight once and for all: Sacha Baron Cohen is not playing Freddie Mercury in the long-gestating Queen biopic.
Cohen, who is best known for his shock humor personalities Borat and Ali G, was set to star as the late rocker back in 2010. However, creative differences led him to depart the project in 2013.
On Thursday, band manager Jim Beach fanned the flames among fans at the 2015 Artist and Manager Awards when he said that Cohen had returned to the project and was even going to direct it. Unfortunately, he was completely joking.
"He said that, in response to enquiries about the progress on the Freddie feature film, that Sacha Baron Cohen had been re-engaged to write, produce, and direct the film, as well as starring in all four major roles!" Queen guitarist Brian May, who presented the award with drummer Roger Taylor, explained on his website. "I'm afraid some folks might have taken it seriously!"
"But the evening went very well, including some nice live performances," he wrote.
The film, which is expected to cover the rise of the singer's band and possibly his death at age 45 in 1991, is still under development.
