Ben Whishaw a favourite to portray Queen frontman Freddie Mercury Ben Whishaw as Q in the James Bond film . BRITISH actor Ben Whishaw, best known for his role as Q in the James Bond flick Skyfall, is favourite to play Freddie Mercury in a film about the singer's life. The role originally belonged to Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen until he pulled out after reported creative differences. Now the surviving Queen band mates are hoping Whishaw will take the starring role. Queen frontman, the late Freddie Mercury, performing on stage. Queen drummer Roger Taylor told the One Show on BBC1 on Friday that the actor they hoped would replace Cohen has the initials BW. When Whishaw's name was suggested, Taylor said: "Well, we hope so." Whishaw is no stranger to playing famous artists having portrayed Rolling Stones star Keith Richards in Stoned, Bob Dylan in I'm Not There, and poet John Keats in Bright Star. Ben Whishaw on the red carpet of an awards ceremony in May. The Mercury biopic is backed by Robert De Niro's production company Tribeca, which co-financed the stage musical We Will Rock You.