Antoine Fuqua To Direct Michael Jackson Biopic For Lionsgate
Christian Hubbard
Posted On January 18, 2023
With the recent release of films like Elvis and Whitney Houston:Â I Wanna Dance with Somebody, the ball on the next big musical biopic is beginning to finally roll. After 2+ years since it was first announced, Deadline is reporting that the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic has tapped Antoine Fuqua to direct the film.
Graham King, who produced the Academy Award-winning Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, has secured the rights to create a film based on the life of the controversial Michael Jackson. Jackson’s estate is on-board with the project and will allow access to his entire library of music. Academy Award-winning scribe John Logan (Gladiator) penned the film’s screenplay. Per the initial report, the film, titled Michael, will not sanitize Jackson’s life. Rather, it will be an honest story detailing his rise to fame, personal life, and controversy.
READ: Chad Stahelski To Direct Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Rainbow Six’
Before his death in 2009, Michael Jackson was one of the biggest stars of all time. Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 350 million records worldwide. Thriller is the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of 66 million copies worldwide. However, a bevy of sexual assault and pedophilia allegations derailed his career and permanently stained his legacy. in 2019, HBO released Leaving Neverland, a documentary that detailed the trauma the victims suffered through during their interactions with Jackson.
Most recently, Antoine Fuqua directed Oscar-winner Will Smith in the Apple TV original film Emancipation as well as produced the hit film Bullet Train. Up next, the filmmaker will helm the highly anticipated third film in The Equalizer franchise starring Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.
What do you think? Will you check out the Michael Jackson biopic? Let us know in the comments below!
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