Lively up for Mercury film
Blake Lively is being lined up to star in the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic.
The Gossip Girl actress is expected to play the iconic Queen singer’s former girlfriend Mary Austin opposite Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen.
The couple were inseparable in the early 1970s after being introduced by Queen’s guitarist Brian May, until Mercury had an affair with a male American record executive at Elektra Records.
However, they remained close friends until his death in 1991, aged just 45, from a long battle with AIDS.
The film – rumoured to be helmed by award-winning Les Miserables director Tom Hooper – will examine the flamboyant rocker’s career and personal life, and leading man Cohen is said to be undertaking intense training to copy Mercury’s powerful singing voice and mannerisms.
A source said: "Sacha is a huge Queen fan and is focused on getting Freddie’s mannerisms, style and speech perfect.
"He is working on building his vocals. It is an uphill task, because Freddie has such a unique power and tone."
Last year, Brian May revealed production had been delayed due to "complex" contracts being ironed out, but filming is expected to begin later this year for a 2014 release.
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