10 Musical Biopics Hollywood Needs To Make Next
1. Michael Jackson
Who Could Star: Well...
Michael Jackson is arguably the biggest musician of all time, and certainly has a life filled with drama.
From the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, his isolated lifestyle, eccentric personality and child sexual abuse accusations, there’ll be a lot for the movie to tackle.
Recent documentary Leaving Neverland had graphic details on what Jackson allegedly did to young children at his mansion, but even without these accusations the movie could be an uncomfortable watch.
Jackson never denied sleeping with children in bed, just touching them inappropriately. Even his version of the story might make fans stay away.
Avoiding the issue undermines the whole project as it leaves out Jackson’s notoriety, while coming down firmly on one side of the matter will immediately alienate a huge chunk of any potential audience.
As for casting, that’s a complicated question. Jackson’s lupus, facial surgery and subsequent skin bleaching means that depending on the timescale of the movie, you might need a black actor to go in ‘whiteface’ and wear prosthetics.
Alternatively, they hire a white actor to play one of the most prominent black men ever, which was massively controversial when Joseph Fiennes did it for TV show Urban Myths.