The first picture of Remi Malek as Queen's Freddie Mercury is published

Filming has started on the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic

The first official picture of actor Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody - the upcoming biopic of the late Queen frontman – has surfaced online. The star of cult TV series Mr Robot has been cast in the movie, which is scheduled for release in December 2018.

The film will chronicle the life of Queen from their formation in 1970 until the band’s celebrated performance at Live Aid in 1985, six years before the flamboyant frontman’s death that resulted from complications with AIDS. He was 45 years old. The film is being directed by Bryan Singer, who also directed The Usual Suspects, X-Men and Superman Returns, among many others.

Speaking of the moment when he first saw himself in make-up, Rami Malek told Entertainment Weekly: “When you’re able to open your eyes and see a different person staring back at you in the mirror, it’s a very affirming moment.”

So let’s have a look at that picture then…

That actually looks pretty, pretty, pretty good. But what will he sound like? It’s being reported that the soundtrack will be made up of a combination of Malek’s own voice, Freddie Mercury’s and a soundalike for the bits in between.

“It won’t just be the dark Freddie story, but that being said, that also will be honored,” Singer said. “It’s about collaboration. It’s a celebration.”