Neal Preston © Queen Productions Ltd.; ABC/Randy Holmes(LOS ANGELES) — The long-delayed Queen biopic has been delayed again. This time because of the “unexpected unavailability” of director Bryan Singer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Twentieth Century Fox Film has temporarily halted production on Bohemian Rhapsody due to the unexpected unavailability of Bryan Singer,” read a statement from the studio quoted by THR.
Principal photography on the movie, starring Mr. Robot‘s Rami Malek as late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, began this past September.
The Hollywood Reporter cites sources as saying that that Singer did not return to the London set after a Thanksgiving holiday break, and that producers considered replacing him.
A rep for Singer told the BBC that Singer is dealing with “a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family” and hopes to get back to work on the movie after the holidays.
The long-in-the-works movie was first announced in 2010 with Sacha Baron Cohen cast as Mercury. But Cohen left the project in 2013.
Bohemian Rhapsody currently is scheduled for release next December.
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