Dexter Fletcher exits Freddie Mercury biopic

Maybe this is even more of a sign that this shouldn't happen.

After Sacha Baron Cohen departed the Freddie Mercury biopic last year, we learned today that director Dexter Fletcher has also left the project. Cohen cited creative differences when he left the project and Fletcher has also cited creative differences as reason for his departure.
Cohen was replaced with Ben Whishaw (Skyfall) and although he is still attached at this point there is no telling how Sony and GK Films is going to move forward at this point. The surviving members of Queen basically hold all creative power at this point because they own the rights to the songs. Word had it when Cohen left that they wanted the project to be a PG-rated family movie about Queen and Mercury. Needless to say, Cohen said no way and it seems that Fletcher feels the same.

The project was set to start production this summer, so they will have to find a new director soon if they want it to start on schedule.

Ben Whishaw to play Freddie Mercury

It was rumored a while back that Ben Whishaw (Skyfall) was in the running to replace Sacha Baron Cohen in the Freddie Mercury biopic. We now have confirmation that Whishaw will indeed be portraying Mercury in the untitled biopic.
Dexter Fletcher has been confirmed to direct. The story is set to start in the 70's with the band's formation and ends around the time of the 1985 Live Aid concert set. Sacha Baron Cohen dropped out of the film after being attached for quite sometime due to creative differences with the remaining band members.

Ali G to air on FXX

FX's new network, FXX, has just gained some pretty interesting characters. The network will air two new series from Sacha Baron Cohen featuring his character Ali G. There will be two series to be aired, Ali G: Rezurection and The Best of Ali G. Baron Cohen will return for new remixes and intros and The Best of Ali G will feature episodes never aired in the US. The series are set to air in February 2014. Check your cable providers to check where you can get FXX if you want it.
Along with this news, there is confirmation that Sacha Baron Cohen's production company has just closed a first-look deal with FX Productions. That most likely will mean another television show. 

Here is the press release:

FX PRODUCTIONS CLOSES FIRST-LOOK TV DEAL WITH SACHA BARON COHEN’S PRODUCTION COMPANY FOUR BY TWO and FXX ORDERS ALI G: REZURECTION
FXX Lands All Episodes of Da Ali G Show Remixed With New Original Introductions Starring Baron Cohen
Deal Includes the BAFTA Award Winning English Episodes of the Da Ali G Show That Never Aired on American Television and The Best of Ali G
Ali G: Rezurection Debuts in February 2014
LOS ANGELES, November 1, 2013 – FX Productions (FXP) has closed a first-look TV deal with Sacha Baron Cohen’s production company, Four By Two, and FXX has ordered Ali G: Rezurection to begin airing in early 2014.  Ali G: Rezurection includes every episode of Da Ali G Show with new, original introductions starring Baron Cohen, along with the BAFTA Award winning English episodes of Da Ali G Show that never aired on American television and The Best of Ali G. The deal was announced today by Nick Grad, President of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions and Eric Schrier, President of Original Programming, FX Networks and FX Productions.
“We’re thrilled to be in business with Sacha Baron Cohen,” said Grad, “He is an amazing talent and we look forward to him developing new series for FXP.  We’re also excited to introduce Da Ali G Show and Sacha’s characters to a new audience on FXX, and we can’t wait to see how he will incorporate new, original content in the episodes.”
Da Ali G Show debuted on Channel 4 in the U.K. in 2003.  A character created by Baron Cohen, Ali G originated on Channel 4’sThe 11 O’clock Show and was spun off into Da Ali G Show.  Baron Cohen produced 18 episodes, with 12 of those episodes airing on HBO in the U.S.
Alongside the eponymous Ali G, Da Ali G Show also features the much beloved Borat and Bruno characters, both of whom later headlined critically-acclaimed feature films. In addition to the Ali G episodes, FXX will receive and air all of the Ali G segments and vignettes from The11 O’clock Show.  Baron Cohen is represented by WME and Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman & Cook.
In addition to its deal with Four By Two Films, FXP currently has production output deals in place with RCG Productions, the production company of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Executive Producer/Showrunners Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton, and Floyd County Productions, the production company of Archer Executive Producer/Showrunners Adam Reed and Matt Thompson. FXP recently announced a cable exclusive, first-look pact with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and their Color Force production company, producers of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid feature franchise and The Hunger Games. It was the first POD deal for FX Productions that was not established through a prior existing relationship with the studio.  FXP has a first-look cable deal with Paul Giamatti, Dan Carey and their production company, Touchy Feely Films.

Sacha Baron Cohen leaves Freddie Mercury biopic

Well, I can't say I'm unhappy about this one.

Sacha Baron Cohen has left the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic over creative differences. If you don't know who Freddie Mercury is then I just feel sorry for you.




I'm just kidding. He is the late singer of the band Queen. Baron had been cast as Mercury quite a while ago and cited disagreements and creative differences with the living members of Queen as reason for his departure. Queen apparently wanted a family friendly, PG-rated film and Cohen wanted an R-rated raw look at Mercury's life. He had commissioned a script and had shopped it to directors like David Fincher and Tom Hooper. However, the band members never signed off on it.

Sony Pictures and GK Films is setting up this biopic but there is no telling where the project will go from here or who will replace Sacha Baron Cohen. If Queen wants a PG movie based off their late frontman I think they should just quit while they're ahead. Mercury did not really lead a PG-rated life. He struggled for privacy despite being openly gay and died of AIDS in 1991. I don't know how you can put a PG spin on that.
I say I am happy about this because although Cohen was a fairly decent choice to play Freddie Mercury, I don't think this should happen. Ever. I hope this departure leads to the project dying entirely.

Sacha Baron Cohen banned from the Oscars

Honestly, I am laughing so hard at this.

Basically Cohen was banned from attending the Oscars disguised as his new character, General Alladeen, from his upcoming film The Dictator. The Academy withdrew Cohen's tickets to the event as a precautionary measure. Now Cohen is bitching up a storm claiming The Academy took away his free speech and issued a threat saying they would face severe consequences if his tickets weren't reinstated by noon on Sunday.
I have seen Cohen's antics in public with his previous characters, Borat and Bruno, and I can't say that I blame those running the Oscars one bit. I probably would have done the same thing. If he wants to attend the event it will not be as a character which serves no purpose other than to promote his upcoming film. A film that will, no doubt, be vulgar and inappropriate for young viewers. Let's face it... kids do still watch the Oscars. I hope they stick to their guns with this one and tell Cohen to shove it up his ass.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/sacha-baron-cohen-as-the-dictator-comments-on-oscars-ban/