The actor Sacha Baron Cohen has backed away from playing Freddie Mercury in a feature-length biopic, apparently after falling out with surviving members of the band Queen. According to the website Deadline, Baron Cohen was keen to star in a warts-and-all, R-rated portrayal of the singer, while Mercury's former band mates Brian May and Roger Taylor are insisting on a rather more family-friendly – and, one imagines, considerably shorter – PG version.
The whole project is now in doubt, but what if May and Taylor get their way? Could the family-friendly, PG biopic become the industry standard? Who else's life might be ripe for reassessment?
Keith Richards: Cheaper by the Dozen
Johnny Depp stars in this heartwarming, carefully re-edited biopic (originally titled Keith Richards: Cheaper by the Kilo) about one befuddled father's struggle to look after his extended family while playing in the world's biggest rock band.
Breaking Good: The Miguel Angel Treviño Morales Story
The life story of the recently captured Zeta cartel kingpin, which focuses largely on his leadership skills and work for charity, and deliberately downplays his habit of cutting out his enemies' hearts.
Charlie Sheen, Torpedo of Truth
This self-financed autobiographical film traces the highly paid Hollywood star's tireless crusade to get to the bottom of what really happened on 9/11. Originally part of a longer work, this all-audiences "director's cut" now consists of 15 minutes of Sheen asleep in the back of a taxi.
Caligula & Friends
Short animated comedy about a wacky Roman emperor, his fun-loving sisters and the talking horse he has appointed consul.
Phil Spector: Thank You For The Music
Detailed drama, based on a true story, about Spector's long career as a producer, the innovative sound he developed, and how much his efforts were appreciated by absolutely everyone who worked with him.
Medea: Single Mum
Uplifting story of a struggling ancient Greek single mother trying to raise her two sons as best she can. Some scenes missing in PG version.
