Sony really doesn’t want this one to bite the dust. The Theory of Everything screenwriter Anthony McCarten has been hired to revive the long-awaited FREDDIE MERCURY biopic which chronicles the life of the legendary Queen frontman.

The film is being produced by GK Films‘ Graham King, Tribeca Productions and Queen Films, with production slated for June of 2016. McCarten, who was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the Stephen Hawking biopic Everything, will take over screenwriting duties from Peter Morgan.

The project, which has been in development for years, started to unravel after Sacha Baron Cohen left the Mercury role earlier this year following creative differences with the surviving members of the band. Ben Whishaw, who can currently be seen in the latest installment of Sony’s 007 franchise, Spectre, is now said to be in contention for the role of the operatic lead singer. He’ll next be seen in Ron Howard’s In the Heart of the Sea. Johnny Flynn and Gemma Arterton are also attached as Roger Taylor and Mary Austin, respectively.

McCartne is repped by ICM.

Whishaw is repped by CAA and Hamilton Hodell.

—TO SEE ALL THE PROJECT DETAILS CLICK HERE—

Josh Lyons | Staff Writer