November 20, 2015 - 14:09 AMT
Ben Wishaw-starring Freddie Mercury bio to start filming next summer

At long last its coming - the long-awaited Freddie Mercury movie biopic is coming, with Skyfall, Richard II, Cloud Atlas and Hamlet star Ben Wishaw stepping into the costume of the Queen icon, Gigwise reports.

Queen fans gave a mixed reaction to Wishaw, who plays Q in the latest of the James Bond series and most recently Spectre, being able to add Mercury to his IMDB page - being named as the band's personal first choice above Daniel Radcliffe after Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen departed the project, who the band quotes as being 'too funny' for the role.

Now Mercury, who also achieved fame as a solo star away from Queen with the likes of 'Barcelona', will have his life turned into film - with The Theory Of Everything writer Anthony McCarten penning the script, reports Tracking Board. Musician Johnny Flynn is also listed to play Queen’s Roger Taylor while Gemma Arterton as Mercury’s longtime partner, Mary Austin.

Production is set to start in June 2016.

Meanwhile, Queen are set to headline Isle Of Wight next year with new touring frontman Adam Lambert - with guitarist Brian May telling Gigwise about his thoughts on new material.

Isle Of Wight Festival takes place between 9 and 12 June 2016 at Seaclose Park, Newport.