Ben Whishaw to play Freddie Mercury in biopic

London: `Skyfall` star Ben Whishaw is confirmed to star in the Freddie Mercury biopic.

Actor-turned-director Dexter Fletcher has also signed on to helm the film, reported Digital spy. Fletcher made his directorial debut with 2011`s `Wild Bill`. He recently completed work on the musical film `Sunshine on Leith`, based on The Proclaimers` songbook. The biopic will centre around Mercury`s formative years, culminating with the band`s headline performance at Live Aid in 1985. It will not deal with the singer`s death due to AIDS-related complications in 1991. Whishaw will next be seen in Ron Howard`s Heart of the Sea and will reprise his role as Q in the next James Bond film.