The tour announcement comes months after the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody — starring Rami Malek as the band’s late frontman Freddie Mercury — wrapped a successful awards season, culminating with Ramek’s best actor win at the 2019 Oscars. Following its Nov. 2 release, the movie went on to gross $800 million globally and gave Queen’s music an added push in popularity.
We Will Rock You — produced by Annerin Theatricals — is described as a “quirky, eccentric and heartfelt story of outsiders,” and is “also a creative cautionary tale for the cyberage.” The show is laced with more than 24 songs from Queen’s catalog of hits, including “We Are the Champions,” “Radio Gaga,” “I Want to Break Free,” “Killer Queen,” “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and, of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
“Annerin is proud to be able to produce We Will Rock You, and we are obviously lucky with our timing,” Jeff Parry, president of Annerin Theatricals, said in a statement. “This is a show I have wanted to produce since I first saw it in London. My vision was to be able to produce it in such a way that it plays in soft-seaters as well as cut-down arenas.”
Added Parry, “I thought that Queen’s musical was for everyone and not just the typical Broadway crowd, therefore we’re producing it in a way that can accommodate most buildings and audiences that want to experience the music of Queen in a uniquely theatrical manner.”
We Will Rock You features a book and original direction by Ben Elton. Casting for the tour is currently underway. Tickets go on sale April 2.
