Lionsgate will distribute 'Bohemian Rhapsody' producer Graham King's Michael Jackson biopic, 'Michael.'
Big news for fans of the late King of Pop, Lionsgate has just landed distribution rights for the Michael Jackson biopic Michael. The announcement was made by Joe Drake, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. Lionsgate will distribute the film worldwide.
Jackson started his career in music as a child, leading the family-run band The Jackson Five as the lead vocalist. Jackson, the youngest brother of the Jackson family, soon outshone his older brothers and later broke out as a solo artist in the 1980s, a decade on which he left an indelible mark in the shape of a single sequin glove.
Throughout the 1980s Jackson scored Billboard hits for songs such as 'Thriller', which spawned a zombified dance craze, and 'Beat It'. And though his star shined into the 1990s, his reputation was complicated with a hodgepodge of odd purchases, from a chimpanzee named Bubbles to the now infamous Neverland Ranch. However, a permanent shadow was cast on his reputation after several child abuse accusations and charges.
Of his involvement in the film and his process in adapting Jackson's story to film, King said, “I first met the Jackson family in 1981 and I’m humbled to bring their legacy to the big screen." He continued, “Sitting at Dodger Stadium watching the Victory Tour, I could never have imagined that nearly 38 years later I would get the privilege to be a part of this film.”