Ben Whishaw to play Freddie Mercury

Ben Whishaw has reportedly signed up to play Freddie Mercury in the forthcoming biopic of the Queen frontman's life.

Sacha Baron Cohen, who was prevously set to play Mercury, exited the production earlier this year, following reports of a disagreement with the band over the direction the film should take.

[Queen on why Sacha Baron Cohen quit Freddie Mercury biopic]

Dexter Fletcher is now in the director's chair, coming off the back of his well-received musical 'Sunshine On Leith' and drama 'Wild Bill'.

It had been rumoured that Whishaw, now best known for playing Q in Sam Mendes' 'Skyfall', had been lined up to take over the role from Baron Cohen, with Deadline now confirming the move.

[May: Cohen wasn't right for Mercury]

Writing the script, meanwhile, will be Peter Morgan who penned 'The Queen' and 'Frost/Nixon', while Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions will have a hand in making it.

The story will follow the band's formative years, and will culminate with their feted appearance headlining Live Aid in 1985.

Mercury died in 1991 following complications from AIDS, though it's not thought that his death will be part of the movie's subject matter.