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Johnny Depp Wants to Play Michael Jackson in a Movie

I think JD would be the best because he also has that jawline and high cheekbones, which I don't see on Evan Ross at all. It's not about if it is a black guy or a white guy, "it doesn't matter if you're black or white!" :D I think that Johnny Depp would really do Michael justice, with this acting talent and his respect for Michael.
 
Femkela said:
"it doesn't matter if you're black or white!"
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I think it matters when Michael Jackson was dark skinned at his commercial pinnacle (skipping the biggest album in the world ever in a movie about Michael Jackson = lame). What does that line even have to do with this? You're not the first person who's quoted the song. Of course it matters if you're black or white when you're playing a real life role in a movie. Let's get Vince Vaughn to play Jesse Jackson if it's not important, then. They sort of look alike.
 
How about Matthew Mcconaughey?

"Well when they approached me to play the part of Jackson, I wanted to bring a quality to this larger than life character in my own way and retelling. So I was hangin' around off a tree like a bat doin' situps, preparin' for my scrotum kickin' contest against my pal Lance Armstrong, when I got the idea to do the Motown Billie Jean performance shirtless. Somethin' got lost in translation, and I forgot to put that sumbitch back on; entire movie from that point is me shirtless. Heh heh. Get more chicks that way. I just wanna clear up for anyone who saw the movie who thought that Jackson was creepy in it... it's mostly because I'm not wearin' a shirt. I've since been told that this was in poor taste. But I just keep on livin'."
 
Grand Master S said:
I think it matters when Michael Jackson was dark skinned at his commercial pinnacle (skipping the biggest album in the world ever in a movie about Michael Jackson = lame). What does that line even have to do with this? You're not the first person who's quoted the song. Of course it matters if you're black or white when you're playing a real life role in a movie. Let's get Vince Vaughn to play Jesse Jackson if it's not important, then. They sort of look alike.
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Thank you.

And the full line from the song, for the record, is 'if you're think about my baby...' it is irrelevant.

You guys are coming up with any bullshit excuse to have a white man play Michael Jackson.

wannabestartinsomthin21 said:
No, but Denzel Washington, Forest Whittiker and Will Smith don't exactly look like Michael, lol.

You gotta consider body type as well, lest we forget Flex's 6 foot plus, 200lb. plus ass walking around in a wig and black slacks with white socks and loafers, lol.
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Because thats the only black actors available to play black characters. :rolleyes: Whats wrong with casting an unknown? Why does everything have to include A-List actors?

Salomons said:
IMO nobody could perform Michael part in a movie, it's too complexe. Remember that movie made by MTV? awfull and also The Jacksons : American dream....well as a child it's still ok but when we get to Thriller it's a massacre :lol:
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The movie was VH1, not MTV. The Jacksons: American Dream movie is the only thing that matters.
 
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the floacist said:
You guys are coming up with any bullshit excuse to have a white man play Michael Jackson.
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It's just because it's Johnny Depp and he's sooo s00per hot and cool and a great actor and he should play Martin Luther King because he's just the greatest thing ever so what if Michael looked 100% like a black guy at the commercial pinnacle of his career Johnny could play him AFTER that lol!

That needed to be a giant run-on sentence to get the general vibe across.
 
I think people find Johnny Depp suitable because he could be easily made up to look like Michael. At least, that's my only reasoning. That and he's a good actor. I don't think about race all that much, since its basically a non-factor in reality. In society its the biggest issue ever.
 
I agree Depp would probably be effective playing Michael from BAD-today, but it'd just be downright nonsensical to skip the parts before that in a mainstream big screen movie about Michael Jackson.
 
Well obviously, pre-Bad it would be most effective to get a black or at least darker complexioned person to play Michael. I just think people were thinking of Michael in terms of today, for whatever reason. I don't think it has anything to do with them WANTING Michael to be portrayed as white, I think it has to do with convenience and effectiveness. That's why I don't really understand why people are becoming so angry at the notion of Johnny Depp playing Michael. Its got nothing to do with Michael being black and wanting him to look white, its got to do with realism.
 
It has to do with Johnny Depp being my favorite actor...and it'll be just a dream come true. :lol: Nothing more or less. Not cuz he's white...not cuz it's easier...not cuz of a suppressed racial hatred LOL Not cuz of a race conspiracy...LOL
 
wannabestartinsomthin21 said:
I was joking. Obviously, you didn't get it.
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Considering 90% of the replies here, I would suspect that everyone was joking! Hopefully, but doubtedly.

wannabestartinsomthin21 said:
Well obviously, pre-Bad it would be most effective to get a black or at least darker complexioned person to play Michael. I just think people were thinking of Michael in terms of today, for whatever reason. I don't think it has anything to do with them WANTING Michael to be portrayed as white, I think it has to do with convenience and effectiveness. That's why I don't really understand why people are becoming so angry at the notion of Johnny Depp playing Michael. Its got nothing to do with Michael being black and wanting him to look white, its got to do with realism.
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Because there aren't any light skin black actors to play Michael Jackson? Lee Thomas has vitiligo too, if he had depigmented should we get a white man to play him because it would be more of convenience?
 
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Oh.my.God, you are taking this WAY too seriously. Johnny Depp also has a somewhat similar build to Michael, similar facial structure, etc... He's a better actor then some unknown off of the street and it would bring clout to the role too. It's not even a reality, so who cares. There's a lot of reasons why it could work. But some people are so caught up on the so called importance of race that they can't see passed it. This is why racism will never die, sadly. If you could find a black actor who could play the role just as well, great. It doesn't matter. Frankly, I don't want any films made about Michael unless the man plays himself. He's too different to be played accurately by anybody really.
 
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How about a story about MJ's life. Not exactly MJ's life but about his life. that way any skin color person can play the role. Hope I'm making since here.
 
I think that Johnny Depp is a wonderful actor but if he played Michael Jackson I would not watch that movie. I don't mean to offend anyone but I think that because Michael is a black man, a black man should play him. I mean in what movie do you ever see someone of one race play another. With the technology and make-up and all that of today a black man could definately be made to look like Michael of today.
 
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I would have to say that I can't think of any other actor that could pull off a believable Michael as well as Johnny Depp can. Why? Well....

1. He is slender and has a sharp jaw line like Michael.

2. He is naturally soft spoken and can probably pull off the soft voice very well.

3. He has a very eccentric demeanor. Perfect for Michael depiction.

4. He is a damn good character actor.

However! I DO believe that they will need three actors to play Michael. Johnny will have to play him from Dangerous onward. But prior to that, I think that two black actors will do better. And I would prefer "not so popular" actors. From young through J5, I don't really have anyone in mind. I would like to see that little dude who played The Famous Jet Jackson play the Thriller-to-Bad Michael.
 
AllTheLovelyFlowers said:
I would have to say that I can't think of any other actor that could pull off a believable Michael as well as Johnny Depp can. Why? Well....

1. He is slender and has a sharp jaw line like Michael.

2. He is naturally soft spoken and can probably pull off the soft voice very well.

3. He has a very eccentric demeanor. Perfect for Michael depiction.

4. He is a damn good character actor.

However! I DO believe that they will need three actors to play Michael. Johnny will have to play him from Dangerous onward. But prior to that, I think that two black actors will do better. And I would prefer "not so popular" actors. From young through J5, I don't really have anyone in mind. I would like to see that little dude who played The Famous Jet Jackson play the Thriller-to-Bad Michael.
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I agree with this. If they made a movie about Michael that didn't have him playing himself.
 
For someone to play Michael it would have to be an up and coming actor.. One that people don't know.. It would not play well having a big name playing as Michael.. It just would not work..

This is the same reason why usually in BIG horror movies, they use 'no namers' and actors getting into the movie industry, because its harder for viewers to be pulled into the beliefe of the film when they KNOW that person and career, while he/she is being chased, stocked, and killed..

The same for those who play legendary artists.. Either they use an actor that can bring the presence of the person in a way that is untouchable.. Like Jamie Foxx on 'RAY' or an up and comer that has the gift of acting as that person..

Depp would not pull off Michael at all.. The gestures, the movements, the look, the voice... Just is not believable..
 
Why? Depp is an actor...that's what he does for a living, making 'gestures' 'movements' 'the voice' as if he were his character. And there are a lot of horror movies with big name actors.
 
There's also the fact that he'd look positively ridiculous done up as pre-BAD MJ, and the general audience will almost certainly be disappointed if the hypothetical film skipped over Thriller, if not venturing even earlier than that. From an artistic POV, going through those eras and changes would be quite the impressive feat. It's pretty funny when fans want to borderline deny Thriller to the extent that it wouldn't be a vital component in a film about Michael Jackson's life. "Let's hear more Dangerous!" Cute, but guess what? Thriller is the biggest album in the world, Billie Jean is probably his biggest song, and Thriller is Michael Jackson at his commercial and world dominating pinnacle. Doing a Michael Jackson movie without it? It's ironic, but only a Michael Jackson fan would really entertain that idea.
 
I don't think anyone has fancied the thought of Depp playing Micheal pre-Bad, or suggested that that time period be passed over.

And Billie Jean may be Michael's most well known song, because of his performance of it, but Black or White was his biggest hit, lol.
 
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Black Or White also had enormous hype and anticipation behind it. Not that it wasn't awesome, but I don't think it's even necessarily in the top three of most remembered and renowned Michael Jackson songs/videos. I can think of five off the top of my head that are probably more trademark and well known.

But anyway, what are you suggesting would be plausible? The film did Thriller/OTW/etc., had a black man playing him, and then used Johnny Depp afterward? I know MJ changed, but not that much.
 
Yes, most of them do, and yes it is. I just think that, say, Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller have endured through time a little better. The other two I was thinking of were BAD and Smooth Criminal, but that's really debatable. The three Thriller hits are givens IMO, however. Which furthers why I think you'd need the era in any thorough autobiographical movie.
 
No one ever suggested that Thriller not be covered though.

"Black or White" is as well known as those other videos and songs, except maybe "Billie Jean". I've never met anyone who doesn't know of "Black or White". The videos for "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" are well known, but I don't think more. They get more attention because they were part of "Thriller" and "Thriller" always gets more attention. But the video for "Black or White" was viewed by more people, the imagery in that video was revolutionary and is still talked about and it caused a lot more talk. Plus the song itself spent a longer period of time at number one then any of his other hits.
 
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A couple people actually have suggested it not be covered.

And I'm not denying anything about how hot Black Or White was at the time of its release, how gigantic the premiere was, or even that it's well known and remembered today. I just don't believe it's maintained the same level of popularity currently as those other hits. Maybe it's because they're from Thriller, but my point in the first place was that Thriller is crucial and needs to be included.
 
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Well I haven't suggested that. And those songs get more attention, but they aren't more well known, nor have they had a bigger impact.
 
Eh, I think the Thriller hits have become the most timeless (I'm certainly more likely to hear them somewhere away from MJ fans), but that's really detracting from the main point now. Not saying the majority of MJ's work isn't timeless, though. Most of it I can play and people get into like it's a song from today. ... Mostly because it represents what a lot of current artists try to make their music sound like.
 
Well you hear them more because people are stuck on Thriller and look at it as Michael's artistic peak, which isn't true, imo, and when he was his most popular, except for maybe around the Bad era. But people still looked at Michael as facsinating rather then weird before 84, 85. A lot of Michael's later work isn't chart or club friendly too, but the songs themselves are more advanced.

Anyway, like you said, this isn't what the topic is about.
 
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I don't think his later work was any less artistically impressive either. A lot of the really innovative stuff is from Dangerous and HIStory. I was talking solely about popularity, though, for which Thriller is clearly #1. Just to bring it back to that hypothetical film discussion, Johnny Depp couldn't do it because not only do you need Thriller for reasons mentioned, but Michael didn't change so much that you can literally have a different actor playing him a few years after that album. People joke, but you really can distinguish that BAD and Thriller MJ is the same human lol.
 
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