It swept up an incredible four Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards, and now Bohemian Rhapsody could be getting a sequel following the first movie’s success, Queen’s former music video director has claimed.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with Page Six, filmmaker Rudi Dolezal – who was good friends with Freddie Mercury before he died – has claimed that a sequel would most likely pick up where the last film ended, at the band’s iconic Live Aid concert in July 1985.
“I’m sure he [Queen’s manager Jim Beach] plans a sequel that starts with Live Aid,” he told the news outlet, before adding that it’s being “heavily discussed in the Queen family”.
Dolezal worked with the band on their music videos for years, including the famed ‘The Invisible Man’ clip. He first began working with them after their Live Aid show.
The first movie ends with the legendary Live Aid performance, a 20-minute show at Wembley as part of the wider benefit concert, and Dolezal went on to work on around 30 videos for the band, ending with Mercury’s final video shoot for ‘These Are the Days of Our Lives’ in 1991.
It’s not the first time a possible sequel has been rumoured, and band member Brian May reportedly said in an interview in December: “I think Live Aid is a good point to leave it. Who knows, there might be a sequel.”
Actor Rami Malek, who plays Mercury in the first movie, has been widely praised for his portrayal of the rockstar and has won the Oscar for Best Actor this year, beating Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Willem Dafoe and Viggo Mortensen.
In an emotional acceptance speech he thanked his family for their support, but it was his tribute to his late father that brought the house down.
“My dad didn’t get to see me do any of this but I think he’s looking down on me right now,” he said to cheers from the audience. “This is a monumental moment, I’m so appreciative to all of you, to everyone who has had a hand in getting me here.
In a heartfelt speech, Oscar winner Rami Malek praises his mom, says he knows his dad is looking down on him, thanks Queen, and says the world "is longing for stories" about people being "unapologetically" themselves.
Watch the whole thing: https://t.co/XQU450bcno #Oscars pic.twitter.com/vXI7TZfuxJ
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 25, 2019
“To the Academy, to people who took a chance on me every step of the way… I may not have been the obvious choice but I guess it worked out.”
He also gave a very special shout out to Queen for letting him bring their story to life on the big screen.
Read more: Rami Malek wins Oscar for Queen role, pays tribute to late father in touching speech
“Thank you guys for allowing me to be the tiniest part of your phenomenal, extraordinary legacy,” he said. “I am forever in your debt.”