Joseph Fiennes cast as Michael Jackson
By Tribute on January 27, 2016 | 10 Comments
Actor Joseph Fiennes has completed a role as Michael Jackson in a British TV movie about the Sept. 11 attacks.
No, that’s not a joke. Nor is it some bizarre fan-fiction.
The Shakespeare In Love star portrays the late King of Pop as he tries to escape New York City with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando after the events of 9/11.
The movie is based on a Vanity Fair report that alleges the superstar, along with Taylor and Brando, rented a car and attempted to drive cross country back to Los Angeles to escape the Twin Tower attacks.
There’s already controversy surrounding this casting news, with fans and critics alike questioning the legitimacy of a white actor portraying an African American.
Forbes film critic Scott Mendelson tweeted: “Congratulations to noted African-American actor Joseph Fiennes on being cast as Michael Jackson…”
Joseph told Entertainment Tonight: “I’m a white, middle-class guy from London. I’m as shocked as you may be.”
When talking to ET Canada Joseph confirmed that he has, in fact, already completed the role, adding: “It’s a tongue in cheek, fun, light look at three wonderful characters that we know, Michael Jackson, Liz Taylor and Marlon Brando, and they go on a roadtrip together. Some say it’s an urban legend. And our story says if it happened, maybe it happened like this.”
The 9/11 drama will air on British channel Sky Arts, and will feature Stockard Channing as Taylor and Brian Cox as Brando.
No word on a North American release date yet. ~Shelby Morton
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Johnny Depp would have been my first choice, but Fiennes is a (pardon the pun) Fienne actor, too. I guess they felt Johnny was too old.
As soon as Michael Jackson bleached his skin, I saw no issue with a Caucasian actor playing him forward from that point in his life.
This racial isolation issue has to be be put to be. This isn’t blackface. Anyone who thinks this is offensive needs to re-evaluate their life in my opinion.
I for one, would curious to watch this.
Great casting, Joseph Fiennes, a brilliant actor as Michael Jackson.
Paying homage to the late Mr Jackson who certainly wanted to be white which possibly lead to hie early demise. One can only have so much surgery, bleaching and propofol
I agree Fiennes is an excellent choice! I think that is what “acting” is about stretching the imagination to make the unbelievable seem believable (and playing Michael Jackson for a white actor is no stretch frankly). Anyone who complains are full of it and should simple shaddap and have a seat. Same thing I said to the idiots complaining when they recast little orphan Annie as a little black girl or when that dumbazz actor was mad because Will Smith played a white West in the remake of Wild Wild West or the morons who started a protest group because god forbid they gave black actors lead roles in stars in a galaxy far far away(and the outcry here is even more ludicrous since these are fictional characters).
I agree, this was a pretty decent choice. And it’s not ‘blackface’ at all. They would of had a REALLY tough time to find a such a committed black actor to bleach (or whatever chemicals for pigmentation were used), their skin to play the lighter toned MJ…or the actor does “whiteface”! Actually because it’s Joseph Fiennes playing MJ, I would likely watch it. To be honest, the other 2 actors playing dead celebs looks like it would be intriguing.
Seriously? Are you all crazy? He had a skin condition, he wasn’t white or trying to look white.
MJ’s “skin condition” is called vitiligo, an auto- immune disease and it is a disruption of natural skin pigmentation. It is seen not as a total absence of pigmentation in face, hands, body of the person but rather as blotches or patches of skin. When the skin is exposed to light the none effected areas of the skin tan very quickly in stark contrast to the effected areas which stay very white as in albino white. The result for the individual with this disorder is a blatantly patchy skin coloured pattern and not the smooth all white skin of the late MJ. I am sure his ” handlers” and the tabs pushed the skin disorder line as a smoke and mirrors tactic. MJ was a very talented man but also I believe emotionally unstable in the fishbowl in which he lived
Im as appalled at the choice of cast, as I am appalled about the very topic of the film, as I am about some of the comments here. HE WANTED to be white??? Bleached his skin??? Tabloids congratulations. These people have sussessfully swallowed all the regurgitated crap that you so enthusiastically serve out.
The facts such as that he had vitiligo making his skin incresingly lose pigment until there was almost nothing left and that it is IMPOSSIBLE to “bleach” skin were succesfully kept out of the brainwashed tabloid crap fed public.
Not to mention that Michael was meant to BE on a meeting INSIDE one of the two towers and probably would’ve died hadn’t he overslept, as well as that you want to make a comedy out of one of the worst tragedies that ever hit your country. Seriously people, you need to back of crap food like McAsshole. It serously messes up your brains. -_-
If the first trailer is any indication he should expect an Oscar for his performance.
I think Fiennes is fantastic, as is his brother.I would have loved to see this and always watch anything he acts in. FYI Jackson was dark skinned yes, but as he ended up dying it white, I can’t see the problem Fiennes was an excellent choice for the role