First Photo of MR. ROBOT's Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Thanks to EW, we have our first official look at Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) as rock star Freddy Mercury in the upcoming biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. This is such a different role for Malek! It's very different from anything we've seen him in before and as you can see, he completely transformed himself to play Mercury! When he was first cast in the role I wasn't sure how it would work, it was hard to imagine Malek in the role. But, now that I'm seeing him as Mercury... I can see that it works!
When talking about his transformation into Freddy Mercury, Malek said:
“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.”
The movie is being directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men) and the film "chronicles Queen from 1970, when Mercury teamed with Brian May and Roger Taylor, until the band’s performance at Live Aid in 1985, six years before the singer died of complications from AIDS. Malek channels Mercury’s look from that global-concert event."
Singer has said that this won't be a traditional biopic, as it's a story that will honor the music. In case you're wondering if Malek will be singing any of Mercury's classic songs in the film, the actor tells EW:
"We’re going to use Freddie as much as possible and use myself as much as possible. I’m in Abbey Road [Studios] right now if that should say anything to you. I’m not working on my acting."
So, it's going to be a mix of the two. I'm not really sure how that will work out, but maybe we will hear Malek sing in the more intimate moments and in the big concert moments they will use Freddy Mercury's recordings.
Bohemian Rhapsody will hit theaters on December 25th, 2018.