Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has distanced himself from the troubled biopic of late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury after tabloid rumours and online tittle-tattle linked him with the title role.
With Sacha Baron Cohen’s abrupt departure being confirmed in July, and Queen drummer Roger Taylor more recently declaring that Cohen and the filmmakers parted ways as they didn’t want the movie ‘to become a joke’, Radcliffe had been named as a strong candidate to fulfill the vacated position, with that most reliable of publications the Daily Star quoting a ‘source’ as saying:
“Daniel has been told the part is his if he wants it. Despite his youth, Daniel impressed movie bosses with his portrayal of gay poet Allen Ginsburg in this year’s movie Kill Your Darlings. Plus, he’s closer in height to Freddie than Sacha, who’s much taller. Daniel can really sing, too.”
However, Radcliffe has used an interview with Empire to deny the whispers. “Everyone on the internet who I presume is saying I’m totally wrong for that part is correct,” he said. “I am completely wrong for that part.”