'Mr. Robot' Star Rami Malek To Play Freddie Mercury In New Queen Movie

Rami Malek portrays Elliot Alderson on Mr. Robot. (Peter Kramer/USA Network)

Rami Malek won the Lead Drama Actor Emmy Award for his portrayal of a mentally ill hacker on Mr. Robot, and now he has a new challenge: Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

The film Bohemian Rhapsody, which will tell the story of the legendary rock band, has been in the works for eight years. But Deadline reports that it's "on the fast track" with Malek playing Mercury, and Bryan Singer (Usual Suspects, Fox's X-Men franchise) in talks to direct the film.

New Regency, 20th Century Fox and producer Graham King's (The Departed) GK Films are teaming up to get the film going, with hopes to begin shooting in early 2017. The latest script was written by Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything). King and Jim Beach are producers, and Denis O'Sullivan is executive producer. Founding Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor will be the film's music producers.

Sony was the previous studio that had taken on the film. First, Sacha Baron Cohen was playing Mercury and Peter Morning was writing the script. Later, Ben Whishaw was taking the lead role, with Dexter Fletcher as director. Both arrangements fell through due to creative differences.

Stay tuned for more updates about the film.