Johnny Depp is stepping into Freddie Mercury’s flamboyant shoes – he’s set to play the late Queen singer in a new bio-pic.

Queen guitarist Brian May has confirmed the project – thought to be funded by Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Productions – is being developed, with the “fantastic” Depp favoured to play Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991.

May writes on his website, “Discussions are at an early stage. He (Johnny) would be a worthy counterpart for Freddie on screen. I don't think I can say any more right now.”