Sacha Baron Cohen pulls out of Freddie Mercury biopic

Sacha Baron Cohen's next film is Anchorman: The Legend Continues

Sacha Baron Cohen has pulled out of a Freddie Mercury biopic over "creative differences", according to reports.

Industry newspaper Variety said the actor's manager confirmed the news, saying he clashed with producers over the film's tone.

The movie, which is backed by Queen, focuses on the period leading up to Live Aid in 1985 and Mercury's famous performance.

The screenplay has been written by Frost/Nixon scribe Peter Morgan.

In 2010 Queen's Brian May confirmed to the BBC Baron Cohen had been working with them on the biopic "since we started talking about it seriously with Peter Morgan a couple of years ago."

May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor will oversee music featured in the film, which will include songs by the band and by Mercury as a solo performer.

Baron Cohen is currently working on a spy spoof for Paramount which follows a secret agent who goes on the run with his football hooligan brother.

The star has written the screenplay and will also star in the film.

He is also developing a film inspired by the true story of a Hong Kong billionaire who offered $65m (£40m) to any man who would succeed in marrying his lesbian daughter.

The Lesbian - based on the story of Cecil Chao - will be produced by Paramount through Baron Cohen's company Four By Two.

Baron Cohen's last movie, The Dictator, made $177m (£109m) worldwide.