The much-delayed Freddie Mercury biopic will start filming next year, it has been confirmed, according to Digital Spy.

The project, starring Sacha Baron Cohen as Mercury, has been in the works since 2009, with Brian May previously stating that filming would take place in 2011.

However, May has now put out a statement revealing that "complex" contracts have finally been signed to immortalise the legendary Queen singer on screen, with a 2014 release scheduled.

"I promised news of yesterday's Queen band meeting. Our main agenda was the Freddie film, which I'm happy to tell you is on course," he said. "Much of our discussion was about contractual things, it's pretty complex, and determining who is responsible for what.

"The pieces are all falling into place, though we are now on a slightly later schedule - filming is now scheduled to start in the Spring, with Sacha Baron Cohen playing Freddie.

"The film should be ready for release early in 2014. We did make some other plans, but they will have to stay under wraps for now. [Mercury] must be wryly smiling somewhere!"

The movie will be written by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Peter Morgan and focus on the years up to Queen's 1985 Live Aid gig. Graham King will produce the project, while Robert De Niro's TriBeCa Productions will co-produce.

Katy Perry recently denied claims that she will be Mercury's girlfriend Mary Austin in the film, which has the working title Mercury.