In a bit of meta casting, Mike Myers is in talks to join the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Myers, of course, was a longtime cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1989-1995, creating such memorable characters as Sprockets' German expressionist talk show host Dieter, Barbra Streisand superfan Linda Richman, and Wayne Campbell – who together with his best friend Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) – hosted the cable access TV show Wayne’s World.
One of the more popular recurring skits at the time, Wayne's World made the leap to the big screen in 1992, including, among other classic scenes, a rockin' sing-along performance of the Queen classic "Bohemian Rhapsody," which played on cassette tape in Garth's car. The inclusion of the operatic classic in the movie raised the profile of the tune 17 years after its initial release, and 25 years later, "Bohemian Rhapsody" may be resurfacing in Myers' life again.
Related: Rami Malek is Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody First Look Image
According to Deadline, Myers is in talks for an unspecified role in director Bryan Singer's Bohemian Rhapsody movie. If Myers is cast, he'll become the most notable name to join the film apart from Mr. Robot star Rami Malek, who is starring in the pivotal role as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
Set for a Christmas Day 2018 release, the film also stars Gwilym Lee as guitarist Brian May, Ben Hardy as drummer Roger Taylor, and Joe Mazzello as bassist John Deacon. Most recently, Allen Leech (Downton Abbey) was cast to play Mercury’s longtime personal manager Paul Prenter, Sing Street breakout Lucy Boynton has just signed on to play Mercury's former lover and longtime companion Mary Austin.
It will be interesting to see just how prominent a role Myers will play in Bohemian Rhapsody. Since the film is set between 1970 and the legendary Queen performance at Live Aid in London in 1985, the classic Wayne's World "Bohemian Rhapsody" scene clearly doesn't fit into the film's timeline (to recreate the scene would likely feel too gimmicky anyway).
The next question is, if Myers were to sign on to the film, would he be recognizable anyway? The actor, who has largely been absent from the big screen since the 2008 bomb The Love Guru, has only appeared in one film since -- in an incognito role as General Ed Fenech in director Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds in 2009 -- and reprised the voice role of the titular ogre in Shrek Forever After in 2010.
Myers most recently role came on TV, as faux legendary British game show host Tommy Maitland in ABC's brief revival of The Gong Show this summer, so clearly he's itching to get back into the business in some capacity. Until his long-awaited Austin Powers 4 comes to fruition, Bohemian Rhapsody may be the perfect project for Myers as he gets his career back in tune.
Next: Mike Myers Still Wants To Do Austin Powers 4
Source: Deadline
