People column: Borat will be Queen for a day

“Borat” star Sacha Baron Cohen has signed to star in a movie about flamboyant rock star Freddie Mercury.

Peter Morgan – who wrote the 2006 film “The Queen,” about Queen Elizabeth II – is working on a screenplay about Mercury, frontman for the band Queen, who died of AIDS-related causes in 1991.

The as-yet-untitled film will climax with Queen’s barnstorming appearance at the 1985 Live Aid concert in London.

Production is due to begin next year, and a director has yet to be chosen.

Founded in 1971 by Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor, Queen scored hits including “We Are the Champions,” “We Will Rock You” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

May told the BBC that the band supports the project, and he and Taylor will oversee the music for the film.

‘L&O’ restores order

“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” is coming back for its 10th – and possibly last – season with former star Vincent D’Onofrio on board.

D’Onofrio, who left the series after Season 8, will return as police Detective Robert Goren.

Eight new episodes are scheduled to air sometime in 2011 on the USA Network.

Time for Cher to share

Cher’s final curtain on her headline show on the Las Vegas Strip is set for Feb. 5 after about 200 performances.

Her departure from the Colosseum theater will come about one month before Celine Dion returns March 15 to start her second engagement.

The birthday bunch

Actress Sheila MacRae is 86. Singer Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers) is 68. Actor Kevin Sorbo is 52. Actress-writer Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) is 48. Actor Kyle Sullivan (“Malcolm in the Middle”) is 22.