Brian May has hit out at Sacha Baron Cohen as a result of the actor's comments about a proposed Freddie Mercury biopic.

Cohen had been slated to play the role of Mercury in the movie for a number of years (as far back as 2010, according to Variety) but his involvement in the project came to an end earlier this year. 

Speaking in an interview with Howard Stern in March, Cohen said that creative differences over what the focus of the movie would be were the main reason behind that falling out.

He stated that he wanted to feature the controversial elements of Mercury's private life, but that the other members of the group were not happy with that idea: "They are a band, they want to protect their legacy as a band, they want it to be about Queen and I fully understand that.

"After my first meeting, I should have never carried on, because a member of the band, I won't say who, said 'this is such a great movie because it's got such an amazing thing that happens in the middle of the movie [...] y'know, Freddie dies'".

Hitting back at Cohen's claims about the project, May stated that the real reason it didn't work out was because "Sacha became an arse".

May added that he was unhappy with the comments in the press, saying "we had some nice times with Sacha kicking around ideas but he went off and told untruths about what happened".

Image:  PA / PA Wire/Press Association Images

May added that "we decided he [Cohen] wasn’t right for the role for very good reasons, which will become apparent if you watch what he’s done recently", hinting at the actor's latest release The Brothers Grimsby.

"It’s obvious that it wasn’t going to work, him playing Freddie," added May. "It wouldn’t suspend your disbelief. We’re hoping Ben Whishaw will do it. He’s fabulous – a real actor".

Via The Daily Mail