Sacha Baron Cohen is the perfect choice to play Freddie Mercury onscreen, according to Brian May.

Although the Queen guitarist is apprehensive about a biopic of the band's legendary lead singer - who died from AIDS related pneumonia in 1991 - he admitted Sacha is the only man who could do the role Justice.

He said: "We have resisted making this film for a long time and it is only now we feel we have the right people that we have given it the ok.

"Sacha does seem perfect. If it hadn't been for Sacha pushing and pushing, we wouldn't be at this point. We didn't choose him. He chose us. He is passionate about playing Freddie. For years, he's been saying he is going to do it."

The British comedian has signed a deal to take on the role of the late Queen frontman in a movie being scripted by Peter Morgan which will focus on the legendary group's formative years and will finish with their performance at 1985's 'Live Aid', which is considered one of the greatest rock sets of all-time.

However, Brian, 63, admitted he feels responsible for Freddie's legacy and is proceeding with caution.

He explained to Scotland's Daily Record: "Obviously we go into it with a great amount of enthusiasm but also a certain amount of caution because Freddie's legacy is very precious and we have a great responsibility not to mess it up. It is more about Freddie than it is about us and that is deliberately so."