Mr Robot actor Rami Malek to play Queen frontman Freddie Mercury

The Emmy Award-winner replaces Sacha Baron Cohen

A biopic telling the story of Queen has been in the works for some time now with many actors circling the role of legendary frontman Freddie Mercury.

It's now been confirmed that Rami Malek - the Emmy Award-winning star of TV series Mr Robot - is the actor set to take on the singer.

Deadline reports that the long-gestating biopic, named after one of the band's signature tracks Bohemian Rhapsody, will be directed by the X-Men franchise's Bryan Singer.

Anthony McCarten, the writer of Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything, has penned the script.

Mercury was originally due to be played by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen who later dropped out of the role following a dispute with one of Queen's surviving members.

The singer is considered one of the greatest performers of all time. Known for his vibrant on-stage personality and eccentric attire, Mercury's vocal range was established on renowned hits such as "Don't Stop Me Now" and "I Want To Break Free."

Malek scooped the Best Actor Emmy at this year's ceremony for his role of Eliot Alderson in the cyber thriller series that recently ended its second season; a third has been commissioned.