Gemma Arterton is joining the cast of Columbia Pictures’ Freddie Mercury biopic MERCURY. The film already stars “Skyfall” actor Ben Whishaw as the iconic Queen front man, as well as English musician Johnny Flynn, who will reportedly play Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor. Whishaw took over the role after the film’s original star, Sacha Baron Cohen, dropped out over creative differences. Columbia is also searching for a new director, after the departure of “Wild Bill” director Dexter Fletcher from the project.

The most obvious role for Arterton to play would be Mary Austin, Mercury’s one-time girlfriend and life-long partner. Austin and Mercury were together for several years, even living together, before Mercury came out to Austin as gay. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, the two remained close for the rest of Mercury’s life, with Mercury going as far as to call Austin his “common-law wife.” Though Mercury was in a long-term relationship with another man at the time of his death, he left his home and remains to Austin.

(source)