Michael Jackson Biopic: A biopic on Michael Jackson is in the works. The Hollywood Reporter has reported that Lionsgate and director Antoine Fuqua are tackling the musician’s life in a movie named Michael.
Along with John Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, Graham King, a seasoned veteran at biopics with the Oscar-winning Queen picture Bohemian Rhapsody under his belt, is producing the movie. The script was written by John Logan, who also authored Gladiator and The Aviator.
In a statement, Fuqua stated, “The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that fusing film and music are a profound part of who I am. “In my opinion, no other performer compares to Michael Jackson in terms of strength, charm, and pure musical genius. He was the first Black musician to have a lot of airtime on MTV, and witnessing his work inspired me to start making music videos.
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His music and photos influence my worldview, so the opportunity to present his narrative alongside his music on television was too alluring to pass up. Jackson, the most prominent pop performer in the world who ascended from being a child star in the Jackson 5 to winning 13 Grammy Awards, passed away in 2009 at 50.
Though it is unclear how the movie will address the numerous controversies involving the late music icon, it is stated by Lionsgate that it will cover every aspect of Jackson’s life. This is surprising given that the movie is being produced in collaboration with Jackson’s estate, which has defended him against claims that he sexually abused children.
The 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland brought the charges to the public eye. Lionsgate will handle Michael’s domestic distribution, and the film will look for an overseas partner. Recent years have seen a rise in the popularity of music biopics, with the pre-pandemic Bohemian Rhapsody earning $910 million globally and Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis bringing in $287.3 million globally in 2017.
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Whitney Houston: I want to Dance With Somebody, released in December, fared less well, earning $49.2 million worldwide. Fuqua is filming The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington after directing Will Smith in Emancipation. Washington’s lengthy career has also included the Oscar-winning film Training Day. LBI Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro are his agents.
In addition to Skyfall, Hugo, The Last Samurai, and Sweeney Todd, Logan is represented by CAA. King, also working on a Bee Gees biopic, produced Sandra Bullock’s smash hit The Unforgivable for Netflix and best picture winner The Departed.