White actor cast to play Michael Jackson in roadtrip biopic - Twitter explodes
Perhaps announcing that Michael Jackson is going to be played by a white actor in the middle of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy wasn’t the best idea.
Joseph Fiennes, a British actor mostly known for his roles in Shakespeare in Love and more recently American Horror Story, has been cast to play the late King of Pop in what may be the strangest biopic ever.
Too crazy for words! #JosephFiennes playing Michael Jackson! What next? Tom Cruise playing Muhammad Ali? Uma Thurman playing Rosa Parks?
— Duncan Whitehead (@DuncanWhitehead) January 27, 2016
A White Actor will play MJ. Because we aren't whitewashed enough in Hollywood, apparently: https://t.co/8ZhjoOzqqqpic.twitter.com/l3y2ZmUabH
— BET (@BET) January 27, 2016
The plot is centered around a bizarre story that appeared in Vanity Fair. It begins with Michael Jackson in New York to play Madison Square Garden, when the 9/11 attacks hit.
Apparently, as flights out of the city were canceled, Michael - along with his two mates Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando (who were in town to catch his show) - decided to flee the city in a rented car, getting as far as Ohio.
RT @ThatJacksonGal_: Michael Jackson outraged about allegations that he wanted a white child to play him in an ad. pic.twitter.com/ErNWcMEFt1
— Touré (@Toure) January 27, 2016
OMG! Someone hide all the knives at Jada Pinkett's!! #JosephFiennes
— vbspurs (@vbspurs) January 27, 2016
The incredible roadtrip offers bizarre details on which the film’s creators can draw - all the way down to Michael and Liz supposedly becoming annoyed with Brando for wanting to stop at almost every Burger King along the way.
In any case, the saga is being documented as a one-off biopic for Sky Arts starring Fiennes as Michael, Brian Cox as Marlon Brando and Stockard Channing as Liz (the actor who played Rizzo in Grease; great choice).
It’s fair to say Twitter has not taken the news well. At all.
They seriously couldn't find a black actor to play Michael Jackson?
— deray mckesson (@deray) January 27, 2016
They cast a white guy to play Michael Jackson. I think we can admit that this whole “planet earth” thing isn’t working out.
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) January 27, 2016
'clueless unconscious white privilege are casting' go ahead and cast Helen Mirren as Harriet Tubman, #JosephFiennes
#MichaelJackson
— Ada Renée Williams (@MsARW) January 27, 2016
Congrats to #JosephFiennes for being cast as Michael Jackson in new film. With Queen Latifah as Elizabeth Taylor & Denzel as Marlon Brando?
— Pete Gitlin (@petegitlin) January 27, 2016
Some suggested actor Evan Ross, Diana Ross’s son, should have been cast in the role.
Evan Ross been ready. RT @deray They seriously couldn't find a black actor to play Michael Jackson? pic.twitter.com/fQPHA5swXt
— the other one (@imfromraleigh) January 27, 2016
Fiennes spoke to WENN about the role, calling it a “challenge”, but didn’t address the elephant in the room.
"I got the script the other day. It’s a challenge. It’s a comedy. It doesn’t poke mean fun, but it’s a story, possibly urban legend."
"It’s a fun, lighthearted tongue-in-cheek road trip of what celebrity of that kind is like. But also it’s rather beautiful and poignant about their relationships as well,” he said.
Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon is set to air later this year.
READ MORE: #OscarsSoWhite debate sparks diversity changes at Film Academy