"Michael", a biopic about Michael Jackson, is officially happening.

wow, so negative whenever there's something to look forward to it gets torn apart
Because I don’t think it will be fantastic? It doesn’t need to be. If it is a tremendous commercial success and brings Michael to a new generation its goal will be accomplished, which I’m thinking and hoping will happen. I was speaking about it on an artistic level.
 
Yeah they've done a pretty good job tbh.
I agree. It looks quite good and very professional. Jaafar looks much more like MJ than I was expecting, and they have all the details down (including the exact same microphone Michael used on the Dangerous Tour). The photograph looks a bit artificial though. Almost as if it were animated, more so than taken in real life. The magic of photoshop I guess.
 
Whilst shamefully looking on reddit, I seen the below, please take it with a massive pinch of salt, although I wouldn't expect it to be too far from the truth (we all know the story)



I work in the industry and I have connections to Graham King's production company. I've read multiple drafts of the script. The most recent one only covered the Jordie Chandler case, but they lean HEAVILY into showing all the ways in which his father was an amoral grifter exploiting his son. Which, to be fair, he absolutely was -- it just doesn't change the facts of the case such as the vitiligo drawing Jordie did of MJ's dick. (To the crazy MJ fan who pops up in the comments: Hello.)

It's a pretty specious area of an otherwise garden variety biopic script. That said, I'll give it kudos that they do in fact show him spending intimate time with children and several people around him expressing concern 'cause... you know.

Oh, and another hilarious thing, John Branca, MJ's lawyer and executor, is a producer on the film and the script makes sure to show him as the COOLEST motherfucker ever. I told my contact that they might as well have him wear a leather jacket and bang a jukebox to get it started.

When I read the casting of Miles Teller, I thought 'this movie's gonna be bad but I'm really excited to watch Teller cook in this vanity role.'
 
Whilst shamefully looking on reddit, I seen the below, please take it with a massive pinch of salt, although I wouldn't expect it to be too far from the truth (we all know the story)



I work in the industry and I have connections to Graham King's production company. I've read multiple drafts of the script. The most recent one only covered the Jordie Chandler case, but they lean HEAVILY into showing all the ways in which his father was an amoral grifter exploiting his son. Which, to be fair, he absolutely was -- it just doesn't change the facts of the case such as the vitiligo drawing Jordie did of MJ's dick. (To the crazy MJ fan who pops up in the comments: Hello.)

It's a pretty specious area of an otherwise garden variety biopic script. That said, I'll give it kudos that they do in fact show him spending intimate time with children and several people around him expressing concern 'cause... you know.

Oh, and another hilarious thing, John Branca, MJ's lawyer and executor, is a producer on the film and the script makes sure to show him as the COOLEST motherfucker ever. I told my contact that they might as well have him wear a leather jacket and bang a jukebox to get it started.

When I read the casting of Miles Teller, I thought 'this movie's gonna be bad but I'm really excited to watch Teller cook in this vanity role.'
Always an enlightened "Non-MJ fan" to have insider knowledge he doesn't deserve.
 
Don’t know. People working in the industry sign NDA’s and I doubt the first thing they do in the middle of production is go on Reddit and talk about the film. Plus a script only covering the allegations?? No way that idea would ever be thrown around when it is the Estate who is backing the film.
 
I totally believe that John Branca part lol. I totally believe he'd be egotistical enough to insert himself in the movie just like that.
Maybe Branca will reveal an intimate detail that completely exonerates MJ in the public conscience and resets his status as the Greatest Artist of all time?

Oh, but he gave us a demo with some crackle, guess we still gotta put his head on a pike
 
The reviews will likely be bad solely because they won’t paint MJ as an abuser in this biopic. Regardless of the quality, most critics won’t care unless they call him a pedophile in the first twenty minutes. This is one biopic where I’m not paying any attention to the reviews, and will reserve judgment until I see it myself.

I also don’t see the point in people complaining about Branca’s inclusion. Depending on the extent, it’s valid for him to at least pop up. It makes more sense than someone like Brooke Shields or Elizabeth Taylor, which I’ve seen many people clamoring for.

That said, everything about it looks incredible. The casting is top notch, and the hair/makeup has blown me away. Hopefully the script measures up.
 
Tbh I don't blame Branca, he's the king after all.

Can you imagine the ego on him, he's watching the famous beach scene in top gun maverick and looking at Teller thinking....yup that's me , that's the stud who must portray me in this movie 👀
 
I also don’t see the point in people complaining about Branca’s inclusion. Depending on the extent, it’s valid for him to at least pop up. It makes more sense than someone like Brooke Shields or Elizabeth Taylor, which I’ve seen many people clamoring for.
I don't think anyone would complain if he just "popped up". Seems it's gonna be a lot more than that, though, when you consider the casting. We'll have to wait and see, of course.
 


This photo has me pretty convinced they can pull this off
It looks incredible from that view, hopefully it looks just as realistic when he's front facing.

The nose is a little off though, should be a bit thinner and shorter, they have gave him Bad era nose and skin for the Dangerous Tour 😳

Ps, do you think the teeth look like Michael's? The entire image doesn't look like Jaafar at all so they've done a good job.
 
A lot of needless pessimism from fans here. They see a single photo and theyre like "nope, this will be a bland rush job". Why? Why does it have to be a 'paint by numbers' biopic. Is that us just superimposing our own worries onto a movie that doesn't even exist yet?

Antoine Fuqua, most of his movies have mid/bad reviews so this is what gets me worried, but we'll see
The Equalizer series has been a success. Training Day is largely considered a classic. What movies have a mid/bad review?

It looks incredible from that view, hopefully it looks just as realistic when he's front facing.

The nose is a little off though, should be a bit thinner and shorter, they have gave him Bad era nose and skin for the Dangerous Tour 😳

Ps, do you think the teeth look like Michael's? The entire image doesn't look like Jaafar at all so they've done a good job.

A few little things are going to be off. But the question is can you watch the movie, lose yourself in it, suspend reality and allow yourself to believe for two hours that THAT is Michael Jackson?

Judging off that one image, I think I can. I don't think it needs to be the next Oppenheimer. But will it be a popular movie that gets people talking positively about Michael Jackson and his legacy?
 
Some thoughts here:
- Jaafar has it down mannerisms-wise and I do look forward to that aspect (the acting itself I'm a little less confident in but I'm holding out on judgement until I see the film)
- I see you guys talking about the nose/skin color --> realistically, unless they edit the nose with CG in post there is no way for Jaafar's nose even with prosthetics to look like Michael's post 1991. The skin color is another thing I'm not too worried about if I'm being honest. Unless they go the Flex Alexander route, I think it will be fine.
- Regarding Branca in the film, as much as I don't like to admit, the guy was present from like what 1983-2003, and then again in 2009. Thats probably the timeframe the film will focus on the most because that is where a bulk of MJ's story and career took place. Unfortunately that most definitely means he will be a prominent side character
- I imagine the film will center around the 93 allegations. MJ was acquitted in 05, but due to the settlement, as we know, there was no way for him to prove his innocence in the 93 case. Focusing on that as a means to help display his innocence.
-Overall I think if we remember this is a biopic film, and examine past biopics such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, or Elvis - we will see that yes, for plot and story purposes details and changes will be made (ex: freddie mercury in real life was diagnosed with aids in 1987 but in the movie he finds out before live-aid in 1985, which is used as a plot device to bring the band back together). Obviously we don't want his story to be told incorrectly but it is going to take liberties, and as long as the overall and big moments are accurate I really don't care. Going into it open-minded, remembering what it is, and that Michael's own son, nephew, prior collaborators, and that oscar-winning people are working on it, with a high budget - it will be a more enjoyable experience overall. IDK, point is, I think it'll be fine.
 
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Weird that some are acting like pessimism around this film hasn't always been a thing. Who complained about the photo? All I've seen here is people praising it, lol.
 
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I don't think anyone would complain if he just "popped up". Seems it's gonna be a lot more than that, though, when you consider the casting. We'll have to wait and see, of course.
Now that they ripped the band aid off, it saves time for other surprises. Maybe they can announce some other crazy acting picks, like a Janet, Jermaine, Quincy, Bruce, Chris Tucker, etc?
 
-Overall I think if we remember this is a biopic film, and examine past biopics such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, or Elvis - we will see that yes, for plot and story purposes details and changes will be made (ex: freddie mercury in real life was diagnosed with aids in 1987 but in the movie he finds out before live-aid in 1985, which is used as a plot device to bring the band back together). Obviously we don't want his story to be told incorrectly but it is going to take liberties, and as long as the overall and big moments are accurate I really care. Going into it open-minded, remembering what it is, and that Michael's own son, nephew, prior collaborators, and that oscar-winning people are working on it, with a high budget - it will be a more enjoyable experience overall. IDK, point is, I think it'll be fine.
Well, if they will have the allegations in there and want to tackle that, then they can't make changes and take liberties. If they do, they might as well just not bother and don't include the allegations.
 
Well, if they will have the allegations in there and want to tackle that, then they can't make changes and take liberties. If they do, they might as well just not bother and don't include the allegations.
Don't be so rigid. Of course they can. It would be good to have the facts, but I'm pretty sure the settlement means they can't talk about the 93 case much anyway, so they might as well make a solid trajectory for the arc.
 
Don't be so rigid. Of course they can. It would be good to have the facts, but I'm pretty sure the settlement means they can't talk about the 93 case much anyway, so they might as well make a solid trajectory for the arc.
Why not? Michael can't talk about it. I doubt the estate is bound to any confidentiality clause. Also Chandler is dead, who's gonna fight this? And yes, if they change the facts regarding his life, anything else regarding the allegations will be worthless and doubted too.
 
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