I suppose it would be too much to ask for an actor of Indian descent to play Freddie, let alone a Parsi actor. I can't stand biopics that try to to compile every major event in a subject's life (see: Ray) rather than try to illuminate the personality of the subject. BUT, I do hope they don't totally whitewash his Parsi background.
Ethnicity aside, I agree with everyone else, I imagine Cohen will be smashing. Can't believe it's taken this long to make a biopic, frankly.
I'm wondering about Cohen directing, though. He hasn't directed before, has he? I'd love to see Milos Forman helm it, but Cohen's obviously passionate about the project.
I'm slightly relieved that it was a joke. SBC is comfortable enough in his own skin and a good enough actor to reincarnate Freddy on screen without reducing him to a caricature. But, by wearing so many hats he'd run the risk of the project being perceived in the twitter-verse as a self-indulgent send-up of a pop culture icon. In other words, everybody's got a lane. So, let him stay in his so the project doesn't make the list below.
ETA: I'v just seen one too many plays and movies written, directed, and performed by one of Oprah's frequent collaborators these days.
Clearly the manager has no concept of what a joke is. The quote I read online is "A Freddie Mercury biopic, that's been under development in Hollywood for around seven years, has now secured its leading star. Sacha Baron Cohen...will write, produce, direct and star in the film." No wonder people thought he was serious?? Maybe it was in his delivery that it was clear he was joking. I think the casting would have been terrific. I know that he's an experience writer/producer as well, i'm not sure if he's directed before though. Oh well.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."