Rami Malek almost played Freddie Mercury again in Elton John biopic ‘Rocketman’

Another cinematic universe bites the dust. This time before it even got off the ground.

“Rocketman” director Dexter Fletcher revealed in an interview that he very nearly brought Oscar-winner Rami Malek in for a cameo as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in the Elton John biopic.

Malek won Best Actor at the 2019 Academy Awards for his portrayal of the singer in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which Fletcher also directed after Bryan Singer was fired.

The cameo sounds like it would have been a sight gag more than anything.

“There was an idea I had one point, where Elton’s in a restaurant with his mother. I thought John Reid and Freddie could be at another table and they wave at each other!”

However, Fletcher ultimately decided against it.

“That would have been amazing, [but] it didn’t come to pass.”

He said it would have been “a little too knowing."

“I’m not looking to set out to make a cinematic universe!” he quipped.

Further complicating matters? While Reid managed both Queen and Elton John for several years in the 1970s, he’s portrayed by two different actors in the two films. Former “Game of Thrones” star Aiden Gillen played Reid in “Bohemian Rhapsdody” and former “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden plays Reid in “Rocketman.”

There are plenty of other musicians waiting for the movie treatment, so audience may not need to wait a long, long time 'til they can see the titans of music crossing paths with each other on the silver screen.