Michael Jackson: Joseph Fiennes Opens Up About Choosing To Portray King Of Pop
After news recently broke that British actor Ralph Fiennes would portray Michael Jackson in an upcoming television movie, many people showed their displeasure immediately, especially after the King of Pop himself once said he didn’t want a white person playing him in a movie. Fiennes responded to the controversy and explained why he chose to take the role, and why he thinks it will work.
CBS News reports that the movie, made for British television, will revolve around Jackson’s alleged real-life incident that occurred after the September 11 attacks, shortly after his 2001 30th Anniversary concert. Jackson, along with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando, were reportedly trapped in New York City after the 2001 attacks, but escaped in a car, and the trio took a road trip together to leave the city.
Debate over casting diversity after Joseph Fiennes to play Michael Jackson in TV event https://t.co/XSwGw8U1Iw pic.twitter.com/DCVWa400pn
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) January 28, 2016
Fiennes, 45, admits he’s just as surprised as anyone else that he was cast as Jackson. He also understands why numerous Jackson fans are against the idea.
“I’m a white, middle-class guy from London. I’m as shocked as you may be.”
Being shocked is one of the many ways to describe some of the fans’ reactions to the news. From calling the casting choices insulting and disrespectful, to a barrage of uncensored put-downs, it’s clear that many of Jackson’s fans aren’t willing to get behind Fiennes playing the King of Pop.
The announcement of the movie comes at an ill time, when some celebrities are gearing up to protest the February 28 Oscars due to lack of diversity. The Oscars and its diversity issue recently became a heated discussion, so much so that President Obama tackled the subject on Wednesday night, during a round a of interviews with television anchors.
“Are we making sure that everybody is getting a fair shot? think that when everyone’s story is told then that makes for better art.”
Yet, Fiennes decided to move on with project regardless, describing it as a “light tongue-and-cheek look” at three of the world’s most famous icons in history. The writing and the interactions between the three characters sold the actor on the role.
“It’s kind of off the wall, but the writing is a delight, and the kind of interaction between the three of them is funny and also full of pathos. It’s people who are so iconic, but also can be detached. You know, you can get detached from society. So it’s examining that kind of wonderful and mad detachment.”
Fiennes also spoke about the sensitive issue surrounding Jackson’s pigmentation issue. In 1986, the “Thriller” singer was diagnosed with vitiligo, a chronic condition in which the skin loses its pigmentation.
“[Jackson] definitely had an issue — a pigmentation issue — and that’s something I do believe. He was probably closer to my color than his original color.”
Indeed, Joseph Fiennes is going to play Michael Jackson. https://t.co/QqprgYLaPM pic.twitter.com/mFQz0O77Ev
— IMDb (@IMDb) January 28, 2016
As an avid Michael Jackson fan as a child, Fiennes admits that he has a deep love for the pop singer and all that he accomplished while alive.
“The more I actually looked at Michael, the more I kind of fell in love with him.”
Entertainment Tonight reports reaching out to the Jackson family for comments about the upcoming film and the authenticity of the events, but so far, no one has responded. However, according to a 2011 Vanity Fair interview with one of the Elizabeth Taylor’s assistants, Taylor remained in New York after the attacks, which if true, would debunk that the story ever happened.
The movie, entitled Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon, will air on the Sky Arts television network, but an air date has yet to be announced. Aside from the Michael Jackson film, Fiennes is also promoting his upcoming film, Risen, which releases in theaters on February 19.
[Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images]
