Could Ben Whishaw have portrayed Freddie Mercury as well as Rami?

I think so, he's a better actor.

Announcement in 2013.

More bottoming experience than Cohen or Malek.

The band wanted Whishaw and had talked to him about doing it, but the studio never formally offered him the role. Probably because he is openly gay.

Brian wanted Ben to play Freddie:

[quote]Brian May had said he hoped the James Bond actor would sign up for the role, dubbing him a ‘real actor’. But in 2014, despite Ben still being linked to the lead, things surrounding the film were up in the air, and he ended up telling Time Out: ‘I don’t know what’s happening, it seems to be on a back burner.’

Both Ben and Rami won Golden Globes last week. Wonder if they met.

Ben Whishaw is openly gay, I doubt they’d allow it for that reason alone. Straight audiences wouldn’t like it and we know most things are made for them anyway

I’ve always liked Ben, he’s so classy and a really good actor. I think his portrayal of Freddie would’ve been more interesting. And he can grow his own moustache unlike Rami

Why wouldn't they cast a gay actor to play a gay character? If anything, it would have made up for the "whitewashing". Whishaw said in a recent interview that he just couldn't find his way into the character and the decisionmakers eventually realized it. Personally, I think he would have been stupendous, but that's because to me he's god of acting.

I love Ben Whishaw but could never for a moment imagine him as Freddie Mercury--too sensitive and introverted. Now Sacha Baron Cohen....THAT was the missed opportunity, because he would have been perfect--the ego and bravado and crass fuckability.

Ben Whishaw is the best openly gay younger actor we have so heck yes he would have been better than that bug-eyed tooth-first performance we ended up getting

[Quote]Why wouldn't they cast a gay actor to play a gay character?

Is this your first day on planet earth? How many big movies star openly gay actors?

It's called acting, R10. Whishaw did just fine playing thugs in his early movie career, and more recently in the theater.

It wasn't meant to be a big movie, R12 - it just happened. And it's not like the part went to a big-name straight actor who could guarantee box office.

Ben Whishaw is also cat-crazy just like Freddie was. He fosters homeless ones and mentioned in an interview that he's had 15+ at once at one point. Apparently Rami is allergic so the scenes with the cats were difficult for him to film.

ben was great in a very english scandal. london spy was also pretty good but it messed with my head. who's he with?

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Ben would have won two golden globes in the same night if he played Freddie. Gay men always get shafted. Ugh I hate the breeder Rami!

r16 I hate the beard on him

R18 It was for when he did The Crucible on Broadway.

Ben has a twin brother (like Rami), albeit fraternal. Here they are with their mother:

No-he lacks frontman charisma and masculine energy

R21 ...of which Rami has neither

A far better actor than Malek, he would have been fabulous.

Ben with his husband

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Moustache.. I think he would’ve been perfect as Freddie, I’ve never seen Ben give a poor performance.

Considering Brian May was so keen on Ben getting the part- what happened? Ben was attached to BR until 2016 I think

I think the producers wanted someone less white. Probably wise and right of them. Honestly he wasn't a white Brit by blood. He was in fact one of those nowadays universially hated refugees and we are all glad we had him. This rather matters and shouldn't just be ignored. The exact location/ heritage he comes from does not really matter.

I'm glad people like OP have no real connection to film casting. Utterly absurd choice. But then so was the one they chose. they both look like rats. Freddie will never be probably "redone."

Yeah, well, you don't have to redo Freddie Mercury, they just needed someone to play him in a movie. And their choice worked out splendidly.

R21 You're right. But Ben's cute face is already showing the dark skin under his eyes and his body's like a ferret.

Such a talented and consistent actor, I'm glad he's getting so much praise lately.

I would've liked to see him play Freddie Mercury. I'm surprised that people are swooning over Malek's performance because it wasn't very good

Here’s the issue, Ben may be a better actor than Rami overall but that doesn’t mean he would be better in this specific role.

There was a lot of physicality required for this role as well as acting, and I’m sorry Ben would have looked nuts. Plus he’s WHITE.

I would have seen the movie if Ben were in it. I may eventually see it, but I have no actual compelling reason to sit in a movie theatre just to see Rami Malek do Queen songs (or whatever).

Rami does so much more than the songs. He was so so good throughout.

Why do people HERE keep downplaying his performance? Cause I don’t see this much anywhere else.

R33 He doesn’t even do them, it’s just lip syncing that looks and sounds obvious

Omfg. Here we go with the lip synch bullshit again cause no one seems to have common sense as to WHY they had him lip synch to Freddie’s voice as he plays Freddie...

It’s truly common sense. Any actor in the part would be lip synching.

I thought it was an ok film for nostalgic reasons although Malek's accent wasn't very convincing. It did remind me of Showgirls at times

Isn't Ben a ~thespian? It probably would've added an interesting touch had he played Freddie. I liked his Bob Dylan in I'm Not There

Ben said in Vanity Fair last month he didn't play Freddie in Bohemian Rhapsody because "he couldn't find a way in and they eventually realized that."

R38 Yes, Brian May wanted Ben for Freddie calling him a “real actor” etc. Ben is great at playing actual people (see John Keats in Bright Eyes). Maybe Ben was scared off by how straight Bohemian Rhapsody ended up being

Fact is that being a good actor doesn’t mean you’re good at EVERYTHING or that a less good actor may be better at a specific thing.

That thespian would not be good at playing FREDDIE MERCURY. We aren’t speaking about William Shakespeare. We are speaking about a rock legend.

When was Bryan Singer added to the project?

Singer came on board after Malek.

R40 they didn’t tie him into the project cause they wanted to keep their options open. Once they got Malek they locked him down.

And why would someone whose played very straight be scared of playing very straight?

R41 ? it’s in regards to his training. And Ben has played Bob Dylan, John Keats, Keith Richards, Richard the second, serial killers, deadbeats, and everything under the sun. Please name a single bad Ben Whishaw performance. He was even good in Cloud Atlas

Whishaw realised he doesn't have the range to pull off Freddie, who needed an extroverted type. Whishaw has never played that kind of role because he can't... he can only play neurotic introverts and autistic types.

Ben is a fine actor. He isn’t FREDDIE at all. You all bitch about Rami not being like Freddie enough but you want Ben Whishaw who plays introverted types? Come on.

Thank god we got the bug-eyed midget instead then

Malek is only 2 inches shorter than Mercury... Whishaw isn’t much bigger. Nor can he play an extrovert.

I don’t think you all have the slightest clue how any of this works.

Well I’m glad you do R48

Ben has something in common with Freddie besides cats and being gay. Boy seems coked out of his mind here :

R50 Well damn lol

R48 2 inches or 2 Hollywood inches? Malek looked tiny throughout the movie, they should've given him a heel. The girl who played Mary was taller than him!

I don’t think Ben would be a bad Mercury, I just think he isn’t good at being in your face crass and overly extroverted.

R40, I think that was Bright Star, and he really was very good in that. I like an actor who knows when to be restrained, but equally I can imagine how it might be difficult to get into the character of Freddie Mercury for an actor like that. Mercury was an enigma, and Whishaw probably needs something more defined to grasp onto.

I wish the entire thing was on youtube, this was great-

I hated Bright Star, an excruciatingly dull movie. And he was wildly over the top in A Very English Scandal. Hugh Grant is the person who should have won for that one.

He’s lovely in Mary Poppins, though.

I loved London Spy, weirdly romantic and great gay sex scenes - I remember reading that a lot people complained to the BBC about it. His character was very extroverted in that one

Bright Star itself isn't very good, R56, but I think he was the best thing in it. Nicely judged performance.

He's very good-looking as Q, I think it's the glasses

Freddie Mercury Troll/OP, I have written out a curse against you.

You will have bad luck until you leave Datalounge.

Agreed, R60. Not on the curse, but on the Freddie Mercury fatigue.

[quote]Whishaw realised he doesn't have the range to pull off Freddie, who needed an extroverted type. Whishaw has never played that kind of role because he can't... he can only play neurotic introverts and autistic types.

Who would have thought Rami Malek could play Freddie Mercury after watching him play a neurotic autistic introvert in Mr. Robot?

R62 the people that signed him onto BR thought so

Well yes they did... my point was, it’s not like Rami is famous for playing confident extroverts either.

R64 I agree. But he came in and they asked him to show his chops. They were impressed enough to sign him on ASAP.

They didn’t do the same for Ben, who lacked the confidence himself to portray Mercury.

Ben didn’t/wouldn’t know what to do with someone like Mercury, and that’s clear. What people don’t realize is Malek wasn’t directed to move the way he did as Mercury, he did that all on his own. There was a certain spontaneity needed for the role and I don’t think Ben knew how to go about that.

Ben Whishaw is very annoying.

[quote]What people don’t realize is Malek wasn’t directed to move the way he did as Mercury, he did that all on his own.

He was coached by a professional on how to move like Freddie.

Wouldn't be so sure about that R3.

R67 he hired the coach. He speaks about this. The coach was a movement coach.

He speaks about it on Ellen

Ben and his husband:

Why, of course, a professional actor who excels at playing all sorts of characters could never pull off Freddie Mercury because Freddie was extroverted!!! RADA can't teach you THAT! DUH!!!

Ben is no Freddie Mercury. Just like SCB is not a real actor.

You all just lack common sense.

Well, Freddie was actually very shy and introverted. He played Freddie Mercury. If Freddie could play Freddie, so could Ben.

I loved Malek. Enough.

Why is everyone so convinced that SBC is "not an actor"? He never had a serious enough acting role to judge from and other comedians have shown that they can be good in serious roles so why not him?

I really love Ben, but tbh SBC would have been my favorite Freddie too.

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, THE WHISHAW TROLLS SHUT THE FUCK UP!

He didn't get the part, queens. Get over it. STFU!

I would never go to see this with SBC. He skeeves the living fuck out of me. I haven't seen it yet. I would have if Ben had played the part, so fuck the living shit out of you, R77.

I will not waste an FF on r77, regardless of how much he deserves it.

I will not waste an FF on r77, regardless of how much he deserves it.

I will not waste an FF on r77, regardless of how much he deserves it.

I will not waste an FF on r77, regardless of how much he deserves it.

I will not waste an FF on r77, regardless of how much he deserves it.

I will not waste an FF on r77, regardless of how much he deserves it.

Whishaw is an outstanding actor --- in the right part. He was absolutely outstanding in the monologue he did in the BBC's Queer series. Also terrific in London Spy. However...I never thought much of his performance in A Very English England Scandal because, like the Bond role, I thought he was really, REALLY miscast. The person he was playing was in life a big masculine guy, so it gave a totally misleading dynamic to the role.

I also think Freddy Mercury would have been miscasting for him. For all his talent, he simply doesn't radiate the physicality and inner energy that Malek does, and which was essential to the role. Cohen would have been simply too frat house male. Mercury in private was a fragile guy, and only on stage did he assume the persona. Malek conveyed that fragility. I simply don't believe Cohen could have conveyed it. It's not in his DNA.

I didn't like A Very English Scandal, either. I never got the sense Ben believed in, or liked, the character, and that showed. As much as I love him in everything else I've seen him in, I felt he held the Norman Scott character in such disdain, it came across in his performance.

Ben seems like he has a lovely life.....le sigh.

Ben is great but he isn’t good for Freddie. And don’t get me started on SBC

I will "waste" an FF on R79, because she's an easily triggered queen who thinks a beady-eyed scrawny personality-free Whishaw could have played a dandy Farsi rock musician. Also, since F&Fs are not an actual thing that can be "wasted," as they are regenerated on a website, I will hunt down R79 and randomly F&F this queen, because she is a useless sack of shit with no taste or competence in judging actors, nor any understanding about how the internet works.

Bitch, while it's certainly not the worst that you are making a complete fool of yourself on an anon board instead of soial media where you would never live it down, you are doing it all so wrong. Unless your goal is to ruin RMs snd BHs reputation and make their teenage fans look dumb and unbearable. In that case, congratulations.

"making a complete fool of yourself "

"soial media"

Kudos to R85! mission accomplished!

Those of you lamenting the fact that Ben didn't get to play Freddy, you should check him out in the little seen film STONED. He played Keith Richards:

Freddie, not Freddy.

R87 cool. But watching that nothing about that screamed Freddie. So I don’t see the point.

The deranged Whishy-Washy fans have no taste or valid opinions. One rock star character equals another, in their warped eyes. They want to worship their rodent-faced actor, regardless of logic.

R90 takes his Tim O'Tay cliche out for a walk in Whishaw World. What a fucking idiot.

R91 = multiply-embedded in psycho fan stanning, he can't parse one film from another. You're sinking, dear.

Not your guy, asshole.

Not your asshole, guy.

[quote]Go back to your soap threads, Mary.

With pleasure, douche.

And I thought the Rami stans are crazy.....

Well then...

The article:

[quote]One of the men, Victor Valdovinos, says he was a 13-year-old extra on the set of “Apt Pupil” when Singer fondled his genitals.

[quote]The three other accusers are identified in the story by pseudonyms. One, identified in the story as Andy, says that he had sex with Singer when he was 15. Another man, identified as Eric, says he was 17 when he began having sex with the director. Singer would have been 31 at the time. The third man, Ben, alleges that he and Singer had oral sex when he was 17 or 18.

[quote]“He would stick his hands down your pants without consent,” the man told the Atlantic. “He was predatory in that he would ply people with alcohol and drugs and then have sex with them.”

Hopefully Bryan will get shunned now. I’m glad Ben didn’t work with him

Now that I have seen BR, yes, Ben could have done it. But I really liked Rami a lot.

Ben couldn’t have.

Are you going to post this in every Rami related thread on datalounge R98?

R102 The Bryan Singer/Bohemian Rhapsody related ones. Considering Rami commented on working with Bryan yesterday:

Rami finally spoke and the truth is that EVERYONE in Hollywood knew. How do you get mad at actors for working with him but not the exes of studios hiring him?!

r104, who is the ex of a studio?

Execs. Sorry R105, autocorrect

Turn off autocorrect. It is too often autowrong.

BW is too frail and wispy to play Mercury. FM was flamin' but also masculine and fit and had a commanding presence on stage. Mentally fragile and insecure in RL? No surprise. Rami would have been a good fit to play Mick Jagger. BW is way too pretty to play Keith. Would our resident casting director care to weigh in?

Ben and Hugh.

[quote]Rami would have been a good fit to play Mick Jagger.

That's who I thought I was watching until he cut his hair.

Love Ben but I have a hard time seeing him as Freddie. Also I don't think they'd cast a white actor at this point.

Is Rami not white?

He's not white-white.

R112 His parents are Coptic christians from Egypt.

Some Arabic:

I love Ben--I loved him as Hamlet, as a kid with a backpack and his mother was a Sloane Ranger--but as Freddie Mercury? No. He's too charming and twee. Freddie was a FORCE.

I think Ben Whishaw's stank sleeve would have gotten in the way of portraying Freddie Mercury.

Was Freddie cut?

Anyone could have played Mercury better than that cicada bug looking Egyptian.

R119, you sound fun!