De Niro and We Will Rock You: Five Key Dates

 
August 28, 1996
First meeting: Venice Film Festival

A chance encounter at the Venice Film Festival on August 28, 1996 brought Brian May, Roger Taylor and Robert De Niro together. Brian and Roger were at the festival for a screening on the opening night of a series of short films made by Queen in partnership with the British Film Institute based on tracks from the Made In Heaven album. The shorts were invited to be screened on opening night as the prelude the official film, director Barry Levinson’s Sleepers, which stars Robert de Niro. At the festival opening party, De Niro meets Brian and Roger and asked them if they had ever considered creating a musical based on their songs. De Niro tells them his daughter is a fan of the band. It was the beginnings of the project that will five years later become We Will Rock You.


February 24, 2001
Leicester Place, London: Workshop

Robert De Niro came to London to attend a workshop for the final draft script by Ben Elton of the Queen musical which is now titled We Will Rock You. After the workshop, Robert De Niro officially becomes one of the show’s producers along with Phil McIntyre Entertainment and Queen Theatrical Productions.


March 26, 2002
London Dominion Theatre: Press Conference to announce We Will Rock You

Robert De Niro, Brian May, Roger Taylor and Ben Elton appear before the world’s press at the London Dominion Theatre to announce plans for the arrival of We Will Rock You in the West End. De Niro makes front pages around the globe photographed holding Brian May’s Red Special guitar.


May 14, 2002
London Dominion Theatre: Official opening night of We Will Rock You 

Robert De Niro returns to London to join Brian, Roger and Ben and a host of celebrities for the red carpet event which is also attended by Freddie Mercury’s mother, Jer Bulsara and Freddie’s sister, Kashmira Cooke.


May 14, 2012
London Dominion Theatre: Tenth Anniversary of We Will Rock You 

Exactly a decade later, Robert De Niro attends the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre in London.