Rami Malek takes center stage as the Queen frontman in the teaser trailer, but there's no reference about his love of men and his AIDS diagnosis in the video or the synopsis.
- May 16, 2018
AceShowbiz - The first teaser trailer for Freddie Mercury biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" has been officially released online after previously shown to the crowd at CinemaCon Festival in Las Vegas in April. Rami Malek portrays the late Queen singer, rocking the stage with his iconic voice and performances.
The video offers a glimpse of Queen's glorious days, the making of their music and Freddie's partying lifestyle among other things. According to the official synopsis, " 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet."
"The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. Facing a life-threatening illness, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day."
Upon seeing the teaser and the synopsis, TV producer Bryan Fuller noticed that 20th Century FOX seemed to omit the late rocker's sexuality and his AIDS diagnosis. He took to Twitter to blast the studio, "Anyone else mildly annoyed that the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' trailer features gay/bi superstar Freddie Mercury flirting with and twirling with a woman but no indication of his love of men?"
ANYONE ELSE MILDLY ANNOYED (enough to tweet about it) THAT THE #BohemianRapsody TRAILER FEATURES GAY/BI SUPERSTAR FREDDIE MERCURY FLIRTING WITH AND TWIRLING WITH A WOMAN BUT NO INDICATION OF HIS LOVE OF MEN?
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
When someone tried to reason that it might be because Fox wanted to keep some details about the plot under wraps, Bryan replied, "I disagree. It's #HETWASHING for marketing sakes."
I disagree. It's #HETWASHING for marketing sakes.
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
The "Hannibal" creator went on writing to Fox, "DEAR 20TH CENTURY FOX... Yes, it was a life-threatening illness, but more specifically it was AIDS. From having gay sex with men. Do better. #HETWASHING #BohemianRapsody."
DEAR 20TH CENTURY FOX... Yes, it was a life-threatening illness, but more specifically it was AIDS. From having gay sex with men. Do better. #HETWASHING#BohemianRapsodypic.twitter.com/sz8QJU7cCA
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
Fox has not responded to the backlash from Bryan.
"Bohemian Rhapsody", also starring Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander and Mike Myers, is written by Anthony McCarten and Justin Haythe, and directed by Dexter Fletcher. It is set for a November 2 release in the United States.
