Michael Jackson’s Life Getting Movie Treatment

ScreenOrigami

Proud Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2019
Messages
2,675
Points
48
Michael Jackson’s Life Getting Movie Treatment; ‘The Aviator’s Graham King & John Logan Reteam, And MJ Estate Aboard

EXCLUSIVE: Bohemian Rhapsody producer Graham King has secured from the Michael Jackson estate the rights to make a film of the complicated pop icon’s life with access to all of his music, sources say. King’s GK Films has retained three-time Oscar-nominated writer John Logan to pen the script. It is not set up at a studio at this point.

I’m told that the film isn’t intended to be a sanitized rendering of Jackson’s life. King and Logan worked together on the Martin Scorsese-directed The Aviator, another complex look at the life of a genius. In that film, Howard Hughes was in a race to innovate before his mental illness and germaphobic obsessions overtook him.

In this case, the complexity of Jackson’s life is well known and will not be ignored in a film that will span his entire life, which ended with his tragic death in June 2009 at age 50. He became a star as a child and a global icon as an adult, but his childhood was not an easy one, and in adulthood he had to defend himself and paid out settlements over allegations of sexual abuse of child companions who routinely stayed at his house for sleepovers.

This most recently cropped up in the Emmy-winning HBO documentary Leaving Neverland which is now involved in a $100 million lawsuit with the Jackson estate. Despite the controversies, there is demonstrable evidence that there is a strong appetite for Jackson’s story and music, with a Broadway musical also currently in the works.

Deadline hears Logan, Oscar-nominated for writing Aviator, Scorsese’s Hugo and Ridley Scott’s Best Picture winner Gladiator, and King will shape the script before setting it at a studio. The pair’s other collaborations include Hugo and the animated Rango.

King is coming off last year’s blockbuster Bohemian Rhapsody, which found a way to deal with Freddie Mercury’s complex life and sexuality in a satisfying way. Fueled by the stadium-rock standards of Queen, it grossed $903.7 million and won star Rami Malek the Oscar for playing Mercury. The pic scored six Oscar noms total including Best Picture.

King and his GK Films recently made a deal with Paramount for a film on the Bee Gees, with King producing alongside Sister and Amblin after finally making a deal with the Gibb estate and Barry Gibb, the sole remaining member of that iconic band. Bohemian Rhapsody scribe Anthony McCarten is penning that script.

Logan most recently wrote the Broadway show Moulin Rouge The Musical. He is repped by attorney James J. Bagley.

https://deadline.com/2019/11/michael-jackson-movie-bohemian-rhapsody-producer-john-logan-graham-king-1202792922/
 
Hey, give this movie a chance. I’d rather see one where the Estate is involved than one where they’re not. And they will have learned from recent events that it’s always a good idea to have a non-disparagement clause in their contracts. ;)
 
If it's about MJ's life, the film should start on 29 Aug 58 and end on 25 June 09......and no later.
 
I may give it a chance, if they make things accurate and leave out the crap.
 
Has anyone checked on Dan Reed? Is he fuming already? :laughing:

It’s clearly not his day. Just a few hours ago he found out, that the Broadway musical is “somehow still happening”, and now this! And no one has called him to get their timeline straight. :laughing:
 
Terrible idea IMO.

1) I don't like biopics. Haha, I know that's subjective, but I really don't see the goal of them, especially if the work of the protagonist is well documented (what's the point when performances available in original are re-enacted by actors?). As for dissecting the private life of the protagonists: that's a tricky subjet, way too easy to get tabloidish about it, I would rather avoid that. Make documentaries/portraits from exisiting materials instead!

2) MJ is way too special, no one could play him in a credible way without his aura. Anyone would pale in comparison and look like a cheap substitute at best, parody at worst. Only MJ could play MJ.

3) Unfortunately this would be a hater-magnet. Now I don't want MJ projects to evolve around what haters think, but this would offer way too many opportunities to joke/hate on about. Focus on the music, that can't go wrong, like no one cared about haters while dancing to Thriller during Halloween.

4) I don't trust Hollywood people to treat MJ with respect. This is the same circle of people who made cheap jokes against him for decades. And who protect their real predators at all cost.

+5) The Aviator wasn't good. It had its moment but just wasn't good enough, further demonstrating that biopic is a tricky genre: the result is mediocre most of the time. And again: you can't portray MJ in a mediocre way because he was exceptional, so it will be inevitably disappointing.

Broadway shows/musicals can work as theater is different, it's a stylized genre to begin with, which gives the creators more freedom and artistic solutions to portray even someone as special as MJ.

I would LOVE documentaries on how MJ created music, fascinating subject with enourmous amount of material to work with.

And long overdue is a comprehensive documentary (given the complexity of the subject perhaps a documentary series) on the allegations. Somebody got to do it sooner or later - but will they find a platform to air it? :/

But a biopic? Naw.
 
It's only recently (31st October 19) been reported that King is going to produce a Bee Gees Biopic:

EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures is teaming with upstart producer-financier Sister and Bohemian Rhapsody producer Graham King to mount a movie about the Bee Gees, the trio whose worldwide sales of more than 220 million records established them as one of the biggest-selling groups of all time. While Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb first began performing together in the late 1950s, much of their popularity came after they wrote songs for Saturday Night Fever that prolonged the popularity of disco and led to one of the top-selling albums ever.

Paramount has purchased the life rights to the Gibb family estate on behalf of GK’s King and will be able to use their classic songs in the movie.
Sister — the venture just launched by Elisabeth Murdoch, Stacey Snider and Chernobyl producer Jane Featherstone — will come aboard as either a producing partner or a co-financier.

https://deadline.com/2019/10/bee-ge...b-robin-gibb-saturday-night-fever-1202773513/

Also:
The project had actually been sitting on a back burner at Steven Spielberg‘s Dreamworks, and more recently, Amblin. Apparently Spielberg was unaware that Paramount had its mitts on it, and was less than pleased when he found out about it. However, after a deal was presented to cut him and Amblin in, his saltiness seems to have abated; Amblin will finance 25 percent of the film with Paramount and Sister splitting the remainder.

https://www.theq.fm/2019/11/04/here-comes-another-music-documentary-the-bee-gees/
 
Terrible idea IMO.

1) I don't like biopics. Haha, I know that's subjective, but I really don't see the goal of them, especially if the work of the protagonist is well documented (what's the point when performances available in original are re-enacted by actors?). As for dissecting the private life of the protagonists: that's a tricky subjet, way too easy to get tabloidish about it, I would rather avoid that. Make documentaries/portraits from exisiting materials instead!

2) MJ is way too special, no one could play him in a credible way without his aura. Anyone would pale in comparison and look like a cheap substitute at best, parody at worst. Only MJ could play MJ.

3) Unfortunately this would be a hater-magnet. Now I don't want MJ projects to evolve around what haters think, but this would offer way too many opportunities to joke/hate on about. Focus on the music, that can't go wrong, like no one cared about haters while dancing to Thriller during Halloween.

4) I don't trust Hollywood people to treat MJ with respect. This is the same circle of people who made cheap jokes against him for decades. And who protect their real predators at all cost.

+5) The Aviator wasn't good. It had its moment but just wasn't good enough, further demonstrating that biopic is a tricky genre: the result is mediocre most of the time. And again: you can't portray MJ in a mediocre way because he was exceptional, so it will be inevitably disappointing.

Broadway shows/musicals can work as theater is different, it's a stylized genre to begin with, which gives the creators more freedom and artistic solutions to portray even someone as special as MJ.

I would LOVE documentaries on how MJ created music, fascinating subject with enourmous amount of material to work with.

And long overdue is a comprehensive documentary (given the complexity of the subject perhaps a documentary series) on the allegations. Somebody got to do it sooner or later - but will they find a platform to air it? :/

But a biopic? Naw.
I am wary as well but I will hold judgement. If they deal with the allegation, I want them to deal with the FACTS. I want them to show what all we saw in SquareOne which is based on facts and all other facts that show the scheme. I want them to show the people who was PAID to LIED and young actors told they would be PAID to LIE. I want Geraldine Hugh protrayed to show how her character saw this scheme being prepared even showing these current liars defending even in court. If they can not go in deep to show this about the allegations, then leave it alone all together.
 
Yes.

Hollywood would cannibalize MJ. Again: just for the money.
If this is something that will expose the liars and conartists families like the Chandlers, Avios(sp), etc, then it can be good. The liars are putting out docs and getting fake a Emmy.
 
I am wary as well but I will hold judgement. If they deal with the allegation, I want them to deal with the FACTS. I want them to show what all we saw in SquareOne which is based on facts and all other facts that show the scheme. I want them to show the people who was PAID to LIED and young actors told they would be PAID to LIE. I want Geraldine Hugh protrayed to show how her character saw this scheme being prepared even showing these current liars defending even in court. If they can not go in deep to show this about the allegations, then leave it alone all together.
That story should be told, but it doesn't need dramatisation and actors at all, it should be in a documentary format based on factual documents, archival footages and interviews with the real life witnesses.

And that's the same story MSM/Hollywood is holding back for 30+ years, why would they want to expose it now suddenly? I'd be glad to be proven wrong but I don't trust this at all.
 
I'm reading on Twitter that the MJ Estate has not confirmed the 'Deadline' article about an MJ Biopic....

Quote:
" Deadline is simply spreading rumors attributed to unnamed sources which means that they have no actual substantiation for the claims made. They have no actual insight into what, if anything, the Estate is doing or not doing with Graham King or anyone else"
 
Last edited:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My opinion: The biopic leaked before it was supposed to. King&#39;s spokesperson confirmed with several media outlets. Why would he confirm? The Estate has reason to stay noncommittal at this point. They don&#39;t want it to be known...yet. If I&#39;m wrong, I&#39;ll retract and apologize. <a href="https://t.co/1CohJ5Wqfg">pic.twitter.com/1CohJ5Wqfg</a></p>&mdash; andjustice4some (@andjustice4some) <a href="https://twitter.com/andjustice4some/status/1198027693746339841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
MJ's biopic will work but only till the end of Victory Tour. If it's from 1958 till the end of 1984, I'm on board. But after 1984, things get a lot tricky in regards to MJ's changing appearance, skin colour, controversies. I rather the focus is only on the first half of MJ's life and not the second.
 
Bohemian Rhapsody was well done IMO. Ill keep an open mind on this if its done right.
 
A few things

-MJ's estate DID commission Graham King to do this bio-pic. The estate has been searching for many months now.

-It leaked early (the estate did not want this coming out right now) and who knows what that will do to the end product. The contract has been signed though apparently.

-Although nothing has been signed on who will distribute the film, still too early for that. I am told Sony Pictures has already expressed an interest. Considering the broadway is going through Sony Pictures as well, this makes sense.

-I suspect it will go ahead, but nothing has really started yet. They still need to write the script, get it approved by the estate, then find actors/actresses, begin filming, edit, and market.

-Likely won't be coming out until 2022 from what I've heard.
 
Agree. Something like this will never end well. And certainly seems going by the estate statement that it got leaked before they could announce it

Terrible idea IMO.

1) I don't like biopics. Haha, I know that's subjective, but I really don't see the goal of them, especially if the work of the protagonist is well documented (what's the point when performances available in original are re-enacted by actors?). As for dissecting the private life of the protagonists: that's a tricky subjet, way too easy to get tabloidish about it, I would rather avoid that. Make documentaries/portraits from exisiting materials instead!

2) MJ is way too special, no one could play him in a credible way without his aura. Anyone would pale in comparison and look like a cheap substitute at best, parody at worst. Only MJ could play MJ.

3) Unfortunately this would be a hater-magnet. Now I don't want MJ projects to evolve around what haters think, but this would offer way too many opportunities to joke/hate on about. Focus on the music, that can't go wrong, like no one cared about haters while dancing to Thriller during Halloween.

4) I don't trust Hollywood people to treat MJ with respect. This is the same circle of people who made cheap jokes against him for decades. And who protect their real predators at all cost.

+5) The Aviator wasn't good. It had its moment but just wasn't good enough, further demonstrating that biopic is a tricky genre: the result is mediocre most of the time. And again: you can't portray MJ in a mediocre way because he was exceptional, so it will be inevitably disappointing.

Broadway shows/musicals can work as theater is different, it's a stylized genre to begin with, which gives the creators more freedom and artistic solutions to portray even someone as special as MJ.

I would LOVE documentaries on how MJ created music, fascinating subject with enourmous amount of material to work with.

And long overdue is a comprehensive documentary (given the complexity of the subject perhaps a documentary series) on the allegations. Somebody got to do it sooner or later - but will they find a platform to air it? :/

But a biopic? Naw.
 
travis3000;4274997 said:
A few things

-MJ's estate DID commission Graham King to do this bio-pic. The estate has been searching for many months now.

-It leaked early (the estate did not want this coming out right now) and who knows what that will do to the end product. The contract has been signed though apparently.

-Although nothing has been signed on who will distribute the film, still too early for that. I am told Sony Pictures has already expressed an interest. Considering the broadway is going through Sony Pictures as well, this makes sense.

-I suspect it will go ahead, but nothing has really started yet. They still need to write the script, get it approved by the estate, then find actors/actresses, begin filming, edit, and market.

-Likely won't be coming out until 2022 from what I've heard.

I&#8217;m not doubting your words, just curious where you&#8217;ve heard these things. Thanks. :)
 
No matter if this movie is actually happening or not, it has already started to change the narrative. Notice how most of the media around the world actually use good photos of MJ, passing up the chance to portray him as eccentric or bizarre in their imagery again.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/mfNlTbKHYG">https://t.co/mfNlTbKHYG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelJackson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelJackson</a> doczeka si&#281; swojej filmowej biografii.</p>&mdash; film.org.pl (@film_org_pl) <a href="https://twitter.com/film_org_pl/status/1198187511748558851?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelJackson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelJackson</a> : un biopic en préparation par le producteur de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BohemianRhapsody?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BohemianRhapsody</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gkfilms?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gkfilms</a> <a href="https://t.co/fId52bxErL">https://t.co/fId52bxErL</a></p>&mdash; AlloCiné (@allocine) <a href="https://twitter.com/allocine/status/1198191964425834497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">I produttori di Bohemian Rhapsody stanno lavorando ad un biopic su Michael Jackson <a href="https://t.co/6TcNJk36AW">https://t.co/6TcNJk36AW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BohemianRhapdosy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BohemianRhapdosy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeavingNeverland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LeavingNeverland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelJackson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelJackson</a></p>&mdash; RedCapes.it (@RedCapes_it) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedCapes_it/status/1198202398826733568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Nach &quot;Bohemian Rhapsody&quot;: Kinofilm über Michael Jackson kommt <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BohemianRhapsody?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BohemianRhapsody</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GrahamKing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GrahamKing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelJackson?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MichaelJackson</a><a href="https://t.co/zPBsNwUDXq">https://t.co/zPBsNwUDXq</a></p>&mdash; klatsch-tratsch.de (@klatsch_tratsch) <a href="https://twitter.com/klatsch_tratsch/status/1198186002684239878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I count this as a small victory. :cool:(y)
 
MJ's biopic will work but only till the end of Victory Tour. If it's from 1958 till the end of 1984, I'm on board. But after 1984, things get a lot tricky in regards to MJ's changing appearance, skin colour, controversies. I rather the focus is only on the first half of MJ's life and not the second.
That would be accepting the narrative that MJ was only a song & dance man who was allowed to entertain only until he was doing what he was supposed to do. That it's OK to judge others by their appearance and bullying them for something they can't help. That being different equals to something sinister. That it's OK for the "normal majority" to ignore and mock those whose "difference" makes them uncomfortable because they don't know them. Accepting the notion that MJ "wanted to be white" (ever thought about how racist that whole concept is to begin with?! That's someone's main purpose must be wanting to white, even if it's the most famous entertainer in the world who reached never before seen achievements.). That due process doesn't matter and if someone gets falsely accused they are doomed and that's OK. And so on.

In brief: that the narrative of those who wanted to undermine MJ from the get go finally won.
 
No matter if this movie is actually happening or not, it has already started to change the narrative. Notice how most of the media around the world actually use good photos of MJ, passing up the chance to portray him as eccentric or bizarre in their imagery again.
[...]
I count this as a small victory. :cool:(y)
Thanks for sharing!

What about the comments though? Unfortunately I've seen many vile ones, and not just from obsessed haters this time but from "general public", this news really brought the worst out of some of them. :/

I just really can't see how this could have a good outcome. If there had been an intent to do justice to MJ it could have been done during the past 30 years. Think about it: US MSM heavily promoted LN while didn't write a word about the many inconsistencies in it. Why would all this change suddenly for the better?!
 
That would be accepting the narrative that MJ was only a song & dance man who was allowed to entertain only until he was doing what he was supposed to do. That it's OK to judge others by their appearance and bullying them for something they can't help. That being different equals to something sinister. That it's OK for the "normal majority" to ignore and mock those whose "difference" makes them uncomfortable because they don't know them. Accepting the notion that MJ "wanted to be white" (ever thought about how racist that whole concept is to begin with?! That's someone's main purpose must be wanting to white, even if it's the most famous entertainer in the world who reached never before seen achievements.). That due process doesn't matter and if someone gets falsely accused they are doomed and that's OK. And so on.

In brief: that the narrative of those who wanted to undermine MJ from the get go finally won.

You completely misunderstood what I was trying to say.
 
Back
Top