With the announcement that the long-rumoured Amy Winehouse film Black to Black had kicked off production this week, we thought we'd finally reached musical biopic critical mass. Between Elvis, Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, there's been nary a musical legend who hasn't had their fictionalised history dissected on screen at this point, apart from Michael Jackson – until now.
It's been announced the King of Pop will be moonwalking onto our screens with the help of Training Day director Antoine Fuqua, who recently wrapped up the release of Will Smith's post-slap film Emancipation. Michael Jackson is hardly a figure that's been far away from public discourse, both while he was alive and in the years since his death. He's been labelled the ultimate child star, a seminal musical artist, a living icon, a troubled soul and an alleged child abuser, depending on who you talk to. All this is to say that there are many avenues a retelling of Jackson's life could take, and a peek at the credits could paint a bit of a picture of what to expect.
Michael, which is apparently due to start filming this year, is being produced by Graham King who was one of the instrumental figures in turning the 2018 Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody into a box office-smashing and multiple-Oscar-winning behemoth. The film, which saw Rami Malek nab the Academy Award for Best Actor, chronicled a specific and momentous chunk of Queen's life from their inception to their iconic Live Aid gig at Wembley.
Much like Bohemian Rhapsody, which was made in large part with the help of Brian May and Roger Taylor, the drummer and guitarist for Queen, Michael will also be produced alongside the Jackson estate. Partnering up with an estate makes sense, just look at the 2022 Mike Tyson miniseries, Tyson, which was slammed by the boxer for stealing his story without his involvement, or even Pam & Tommy, about the release of Pamela Anderson's sex tape with Tommy Lee, that was made despite Anderson's wishes. Keeping the subject, or what's left of their estate, sweet help's curry favour with all parties involved and the general viewing public as well. Would Elvis have packed as much of a punch if Austin Butler hadn't been praised by the Presley family for doing the icon justice? Or would the many historical inaccuracies that plagued Bohemian Rhapsody have been more damaging had May and Taylor not greenlit them?
Jackson's story is, naturally, going to be a tough one to tackle. Emerging in the 60s as the face of The Jackson 5, he then went on between the 70s and early 00s to become one of the defining pop icons of all time a more than 40-year career. But his increasingly erratic personal life generated as many headlines – more even – than his music. There were the plastic surgeries, the alleged skin bleaching, the babies on balconies and the accusations of child abuse (Jackson was found not guilty of child molestation in 2005, before further allegations of child abuse surfaced after his death). Jackson died suddenly in 2009 at the age of 50 from cardiac arrest from an overdose of prescription drugs meaning, unfortunately, many of the questions surrounding his life remain unanswered.
Considering the estate's involvement, and the fact Bohemian Rhapsody was checkpointed by music, there's a strong chance Michael might gloss over the more unsavoury parts of the singer's life in favour of highlighting his songs (think Elvis conveniently glossing over the fact Priscilla Presley was just 14 when she was courted by a 25-year-old Elvis). But according to Deadline, a source close to the picture has said “[the film] will also deal squarely with the paedophile accusations that dogged his later years up to his death in 2009 at age 50”.
Whether or not this ends up being the truth of the final product remains to be seen, as many biopics in the past have promised transparency but delivered polish. But it's clear the cash cow of late or great musical legends isn't milking dry any time soon. Once Michael and Black to Black hit the screen and, inevitably, the hopeful Oscars ring, it's only a matter of time before the life of another icon will be on the serving platter.