Michael Jackson estate thrills to biopic

[benscarr]

If this story is true and John Branca has approached movies producers about a biopic of Michael's life. Then I am disappointed and quite concerned with the running of Michael's estate. I find the idea of a biopic of Michael's life just tacky. I don't care if it's only about Michael's life from 1958-88, I think a biopic is just a cheap cashing for the estate, and if this idea is true it shows the estate aren't putting fans first and promoting Michael's art. Why not release the Bad Tour as a documentary film instead, with offstage footage of Michael and let us learn more about Michael the person, than getting an idea what Michael was like from some actor.

[KingMikeJ]

Paddy Power (British betting site) have these odds for who the actor will be:

4/1 Johnny Depp
9/2 Zac Efron
6/1 Usher
6/1 Jaden Smith
8/1 Will Smith
8/1 Jamie Foxx
10/1 Andre 3000
12/1 Justin Timberlake
12/1 Randy Jackson
16/1 Crispin Glover
16/1 Chris Brown
20/1 Chris Tucker
20/1 Jared Leto
20/1 Adrian Grenier
25/1 Derek Hough
40/1 Justin Bieber
40/1 Denzel Washington
40/1 Will.I.Am
40/1 Eddie Murphy
50/1 Kenny Wormald
50/1 Pharell Williams
80/1 Kevin Bacon
100/1 Channing Tatum
100/1 Keanu Reeves

http://www.movieline.com/2011/11/mic...sting-pool.php

[Ben]

I agree with Benscarr, I'd like a real documentary better than a movie which would feel quite fake. The list of actors from Paddy Power is lame IMO. Let's have Michael explain Michael.

[KingMikeJ]

Johnny Depp talks about Michael Jackson's death and the possibility of playing him in a movie (30th June 2009):

[Pentum]

Paddy Power (British betting site) have these odds for who the actor will be:

4/1 Johnny Depp
9/2 Zac Efron
6/1 Usher
6/1 Jaden Smith
8/1 Will Smith
8/1 Jamie Foxx
10/1 Andre 3000
12/1 Justin Timberlake
12/1 Randy Jackson
16/1 Crispin Glover
16/1 Chris Brown
20/1 Chris Tucker
20/1 Jared Leto
20/1 Adrian Grenier
25/1 Derek Hough
40/1 Justin Bieber
40/1 Denzel Washington
40/1 Will.I.Am
40/1 Eddie Murphy
50/1 Kenny Wormald
50/1 Pharell Williams
80/1 Kevin Bacon
100/1 Channing Tatum
100/1 Keanu Reeves

http://www.movieline.com/2011/11/mic...sting-pool.php

Worst list EVER, LOL. Justin Bieber?????

Anyway, I'd go for Johnny Depp.

[KingMikeJ]

4/1 Johnny Depp

Probably the best choice.

9/2 Zac Efron

No chance.

6/1 Usher

Hmm is Usher even an actor?

6/1 Jaden Smith

Definitely a posibility for a younger Michael.

8/1 Will Smith

Bad choice imo

8/1 Jamie Foxx

Not as Michael but I'm sure he'll get himself involed with this film in some way.

10/1 Andre 3000

Who?

12/1 Justin Timberlake

In his dreams.

12/1 Randy Jackson

Is this American Idol Randy Jackson or Michael's brother Randy Jackson? Either way they would need to get on a diet before they even have a chance.

16/1 Crispin Glover

I think Crispin Glover would make Michael appear too weird and reinforce public misconceptions about Michael.

16/1 Chris Brown

He's an actor?

20/1 Chris Tucker

He looks nothing like Michael and I don't think a comedy actor is the way to go.

20/1 Jared Leto
20/1 Adrian Grenier
25/1 Derek Hough

Who??

40/1 Justin Bieber

40/1 Denzel Washington
40/1 Will.I.Am
40/1 Eddie Murphy
50/1 Kenny Wormald
50/1 Pharell Williams
80/1 Kevin Bacon
100/1 Channing Tatum
100/1 Keanu Reeves

I think all of these actors would be very bad choice.

[Ashtanga]

I love Depp, who's a fantastic actor, but it would be weird to me.

I love Depp too. But I do not know if it would be a good idea , I think it would be a little strange. It will be very difficult to find an actor who can dance like Michael and bla bla bla.... or not?

[briej]

Can We Get The Bad Tour In Movie theaters 1st

[ExoticPrincess]

This idea does'nt thrill me if I'm to be honest. There's too many factors to take into consideration here. The person playing Michael would not only need to 'act', but that person would also need to be able to 'dance' and dance damn well, no cheap imitation version will be acceptable. But above all else, who really can emulate all that is/was Michael Jackson?

I don't know, guess we'll have to wait and see.

[bluesky]

Now that the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray hasreached its conclusion (he’ll be sentenced on November 29), the estate of Michael Jackson can get back to the business of flooding the market with product to keep the late King of Pop in the collective consciousness forever. The Cirque du Soleil show based on his music is currently on the road, and there are supposedly many more posthumous releases coming from Michael’s vaults.According to Variety, the next logical piece of the puzzle has started to fall into place; MJ estate executor John Branca has started having conversations with Hollywood types about the prospect of producing a biopic based on Jackson’s life. The project is only at the “discussions” stage at the moment, so it could be years before there is a finished film (or any movement forward at all, really).The idea of a Michael Jackson biopic raises two immediate questions. The first is: Who will play Michael? And secondly: What stages of Jackson’s life will get covered?Let’s tackle the last question first. Michael was famous by age six, which means that he lived most of his life in the public eye and thus doesn’t have a whole lot of stories that were left untold. The Jackson 5 era was covered pretty well by the award-winning 1992 mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream, so a new film would feel like a bit of a rehash.
Most likely, the most fascinating material would come from the stuff that is least likely to depicted on screen, like his child-abuse scandal and late-period money troubles. If they really just want to focus on his career peak, a film about the construction of Thriller would probably be the most entertaining, as it would be the story of Jackson’s ability to distill a diverse number of ’70s sounds into a whole new form that defined the 1980s.

(The alternate-universe version of that film would encircle HIStory, which would tell the tale of a massive superstar stumbling for the first time after a decade-plus run at the pinnacle of pop music.)As for the actor who should play Jackson, it seems like the only reasonable choice would be to find a newcomer to slip into MJ’s bedazzled gloves. The role is going to carry so much weight that it will be tough for any established actor to come to it baggage-free. Plus, that actor can’t fake it. So you have to have somebody who is willing to shoulder the burden of the character while also being able to sing and dance in a convincing way. Outside of the many impersonators out there, the only person who could possibly pull that off right now is Donald Glover.But what do you think? Any nominations for who should play Jackson or which one of his career arcs would make for the best film? Don’t keep it in the closet – leave it in the comments!

http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/11/16/m...ackson-biopic/

[bluesky]

Bookie Betting Johnny Depp Will Play Michael Jackson in Biopic



With Variety reporting that Michael Jackson’slawyer, John Branca, is shopping around a movie based on the King of Pop’s life, speculation is already rampant over who will play Jackson. British betting housePaddy Power is putting odds on Johnny Depp to star in the movie. The bookmaker has him at 4 to 1 to play Jackson, despite the fact that Depp is white and Jackson was African American.

8 imagesPhotos: Michael Jackson's Financial Life After Death
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Other actors earning decent odds include Zac Efron (9 to 2), Usher (6 to 1) and Jaden Smith (6 to 1) who one assumes would play Jackson in his early years.If the film gets made, it could help keep Jackson at the top of our annual list of the Top Earning Dead Celebrities. *****, who passed away two and a half years ago after a drug overdose, earned $170 million over the past 12 months. He’ll keep earning big from his music, his stake in Sony’s ATV catalog and profits from the Cirque du Soliel show based on Jackson’s music:The Immortal World Tour.According to the Variety report, Branca (who is the executor of Jackson’s estate) has met with Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollack about producing the film. If the estate keeps a strong hand in the production, it will be in a position to take a healthy share of the film’s profits.This Is It, the posthumous documentary based on rehearsal footage from the comeback tour Jackson was working on when he died, earned a healthy $261 million at the global box office. A biographical film, especially one with a big name star like Johnny Depp attached, could do even better. That film was distributed by Sony which also distributes Jackson’s music so look for the studio to play a big part in any potential biopic.Who do you think should play Michael Jackson in a biopic of the star?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothyp...son-in-biopic/

[Ben]

Now that I think of it, just to see Depp moonwalking... That could be fun. Lol

[twinklEE]

It's way better than having a black guy portray him in his later years wearing large quantities of white make-up. It might look more natural.

Actually, they might want to chose someone weho looks the most like him, regardless of colour of his skin.

A white guy playing Michael would be a controversial issue.
And tbh I wouldn't want a white person to be playing Michael either, Michael wasn't white, so why should they get a white actor? He did have vitiligo, and it would be more convenient to have a light skin person play him, but I'm sure many would be offended by it.

[Memefan]

that's something I'm just not interested in

Why?

I absolutely love biographies. From JFK to Ray Charles... I will not pick up a book to read about these people, but i will sit down for two hours and learn about their lives.

I think MJ deserves a great biopic. I am sure it's something he would have appreciated, as long as it sticks to the facts & not dwell too much on predicaments and so-called issues.

The biopic has a far better chance of changing people' mind than any Cascio book.

He was a fool for claiming no one would think MJ was a child predator after reading his book...he just conveniently forgot that people had to ACTUALLY READ it.

which no one, but some flip flopping fans, are doing.

A white guy playing Michael would be a controversial issue.
And tbh I wouldn't want a white person to be playing Michael either, Michael wasn't white, so why should they get a white actor? He did have vitiligo, and it would be more convenient to have a light skin person play him, but I'm sure many would be offended by it.

Very true. Expect a scathing letter from the NAACP if Johnny Depp is the only actor chosen.

But i feel they need two actors, one for younger MJ..and another one from Dangerous and up (Johnny Depp)

My picks for younger MJ:

Savion Glover & Corbin Bleu

Older MJ: Johnny Depp

MJ was against racial barriers, I don't think he'd mind if JD played the older version of him. The thought of a caked make up dude playing him later in life, is too depressing.


@Benscarr...they are in early discussions to make the film...doesn't mean it will be in theatre this year, or next...or even 2 years.

[benscarr]

I can't believe fans here are even entertaining the idea of a biopic of Michael's life. I think the idea of it is too soon and that alone makes it bad enough.