Antoine Fuqua and Lionsgate to produce Michael Jackson's biopic titled 'Michael'

In his upcoming film, director Antoine Fuqua will explore the life of Michael Jackson. On Wednesday, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) revealed that Fuqua and Lionsgate are collaborating to produce a biopic titled Michael. Additionally, the Training Day director, 56, said in a statement that "combining film and music are a deep part of who I am" as he begins directing the movie. In a statement acquired by THR on Wednesday, Fuqua said, "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. 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," the director added in the statement. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image credit: IGN[/caption] Fuqua continued, "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." However, although Lionsgate has stated that the upcoming biopic will "address all aspects of Jackson's life," THR reported it is unknown how Fuqua's film will address allegations of child sex abuse made against Jackson, which were most recently publicly addressed in the 2019 documentary film Finding Neverland. Also read: ‘White Lotus’ Star Aubrey Plaza Shares A Kiss With Chloe Fineman In A Steamy ‘SNL’ Promo

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The film will be made in collaboration with Jackson's estate, which has frequently defended the late singer and songwriter against charges. In addition, co-executers of Jackson's estate, John Branca and John McClain, are named as producers. On another note, Michael Jackson referred to in the music industry as the "King of Pop," passed away on June 25, 2009, at 50, following a cardiac arrest at his home. His doctor Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 for his death. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image credit: Apple TV+ Press[/caption] Moreover, Will Smith's most recent film, Emancipation, was directed by Antoine Fuqua. It was the 54-year-old actor's first cinematic outing since the contentious Oscars incident in March 2022, when he hit Chris Rock onstage. Additionally, Michael's screenplay was written by John Logan, who also wrote the scripts for Gladiator (2000), The Aviator (2004), and the James Bond films Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015), according to THR. Lastly, as of now, no casting choices have been made on who will play Michael Jackson or other significant individuals in the singer's life.