Antoine Fuqua directs Michael Jackson biopic

Given the chaos surrounding his latest film, Will Smith’s slavery drama Emancipation (with Smith slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars last year), you could have guessed director Antoine Fuqua would pick something without a chance for controversy for a future film. But no, he’s embarked on a Michael Jackson biopic, currently titled simply miguel.

Writer John Logan and producer Graham King have been trying to piece together for years, trying to chart Jackson’s rise to fame, his troubled family life, his musical stardom, but without ignoring his chaotic personal life, her plastic surgery and her pedophilia allegations. . which continued his last years until his death in 2009 at the age of 50, following a cardiac arrest caused by a cocktail of sedatives.

“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that the combination of film and music is an integral part of who I am,” Fuqua said in a statement. “To me, there is no artist with the power, charisma and sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson. I was influenced to make music videos by seeing his work: the first black artist to perform on MTV. His music and these images are part of my worldview and the opportunity to tell his story on screen alongside his music was irresistible.”

“Antoine’s films offer personal perspectives on extraordinary characters who continually captivate global audiences,” adds King. “I am confident that Antoine will make an outstanding and captivating film that will celebrate and provide profound new insight into the life of the King of Pop.” Yes, we have a feeling that playing with chainsaws might be a less risky career choice in the future. The search for a protagonist is probably already underway, even when Fuqua is done. equalizer 3 (due out Sept. 1) and is gearing up to shoot the new film later this year.