After several years of development, it appears that the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic is finally picking up steam. It’s been announced that Antoine Fuqua will helm the biopic which is simply being titled Michael.
As shared via Empire, the film has been in the works with writer John Logan and producer Graham King. The narrative of the film is said to “chart Jackson’s rise to fame, his troubled family life, his musical superstardom, but not ignoring his chaotic personal life, plastic surgery and the pedophile accusations that dogged his later years up to his death in 2009 at age 50, from cardiac arrest caused by a cocktail of sedatives.”
It’s clear by this description that Michael will be quite the project. With that said, Antoine Fuqua is more than ready to adapt Jackson’s life for the big screen. He explained as much in a statement where he described the King of Pop’s impact on his life.
Here’s what Fuqua had to share:
“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am,” he began. “For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson. I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work — the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV. His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible.”
Additionally, producer Graham King shared his own statement:
“Antoine’s films provide personal perspectives of larger-than-life characters that continuously captivate global audiences,” says King. “I’m confident that Antoine will make an exceptional and compelling film that will both celebrate and give profound new insights into the life of the King of Pop.”
It’s certainly going to be an interesting project to keep an eye on. As of this writing, they’re still looking for a leading man to play the titular role. Though filming is set to begin later this year – so we should have more news on that front sooner rather than later.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for updates on Michael, the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, as we have them.