Hollywood is finally ready to tell the remarkable life story of Michael Jackson. The upcoming biopic movie, Michael, will see Training Day director Antoine Fuqua tell the King of Pop’s incredible life story, with Lionsgate bagging the distribution rights for the global release. Considering Michael Jackson is one of the most influential cultural icons of the last century, his music and dance moves continuing to inspire new generations of artists worldwide, Lionsgate could be on to a winner.
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Antoine Fuqua | Image: IMDb
The King of Pop’s biopic will reportedly capture all aspects of Jackson’s life, including his childhood struggles, public image transformation and gladdening highs. ‘Michael’ will also take audiences behind the scenes of his most iconic concerts, many of which formed the foundations for his meteoric rise. Variety says Lionsgate’s Michael biopic film will enter principal photography sometime later this year, with veteran biopic producer, Graham King on board for the project. King will be joined by John Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate.
“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am,” director Antoine Fuqua expressed in a statement. “For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson. I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work — the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV. His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible.”
Michael Jackson performing in Germany in 1988 | Image: David Baltzer/Zenit/IAIF IAIF/Redu
Importantly, the film won’t shy away from the star’s contentious final few years. According to Deadline, Michael will also “deal squarely with the pedophile accusations” that the pop star face later in life. The movie’s script will be penned by John Logan, who’s best known for his work on Skyfall.
During the film’s announcement, Joe Drake, president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group said, “Antoine is a perceptive and powerful filmmaker, and we feel very fortunate that he has chosen Michael as his next project. His visionary storytelling skills and commitment to his craft will make Michael an unforgettable film.” Apart from this, everything else is kept under pretty tight wraps and there’s no word on potential casts or actors involved with the project.
Despite his early departure, MJ left behind an enormous legacy, riddled with controversy and set to an incredible back catalogue of hits. As divisive as the King of Pop was, the calibre of people involved in his biopic suggests Michael will be an immersive and raw journey through one of the industry’s best-known stars.
