British actor Ben Whishaw has been confirmed as the lead role in the forthcoming biopic about Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

The 33 year-old has been rumoured as the other band members target for the lead role since October, especially since fellow Brit Sasha Baron Cohen dropped out of the project.

The 'Ali G' star was closely attached to the film since it's announcement in September 2010 but the remaining members of Queen, thought his presence would be "very distracting" in the lead role.

The untitled film has also landed its director, 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' actor and recently turned filmmaker Dexter Fletcher has landed the gig, according to Deadline.

The report also states GK Films' Graham King, who will be the movie's producer, has been connected to the production for several years and will team with the 'Queen' and 'Frost/Nixon' writer Peter Morgan who will pen the script.

The film depicts the bands journey to the top of the music industry and culminates in Queen headlining Live Aid in 1985 at Wembley Stadium. Mercury, who died from complications of AIDS in 1991, won't have his last days portrayed in the movie.

Whishaw is going into the project with previous experience of playing a musician legend, 'The Hour' actor has already played Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in the 2005 film 'Stoned'.

The Bedfordshire native is also starring alongside Chris Hemsworth in the Warner Bros film 'The Heart Of The Sea' and will also reprise his role as 'Q' in the next instalment of James Bond which is expected to be released in 2015.

Dexter Fletcher
Dexter Fletcher will direct the biopic