In a new Interview with Classic Rock, QUEEN axeman Brian May revealed his thoughts on Rami Malek and how Sasha Baron Cohen would’ve been a disaster if selected.
He said:
“Well, that was a near-disaster. I think we realized just in time what a disaster that was going to be. And it actually wasn’t rocket science to figure that out.
But yeah, that’s one of the rocks that we nearly hit. I think we all thought it would be difficult. At some points, we thought it was impossible. But along came Rami, and we had a great feeling immediately.”
He also gave his opinion about the guy who plays him, Gwilym Lee:
“I think we were all nervous in the beginning when the casting process was going on. Because yes, that’s a real tough thing to contemplate – somebody playing the part of you. The guy who plays me, Gwilym Lee, I spent a lot of time with him, so he understood me. He’d be picking up my mannerisms and what makes me tick.
So when Freddie and I are in the studio, confronting each other, it’s very real. Some of it was improvised, but they did it with the knowledge that they understood us from the inside out.”