Graham King: Last News

The director of Lionsgate’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic is sharing some new details about the movie.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer “Michael,” the Lionsgate biopic about Michael Jackson, will receive more than $21 million in California tax credits, the state’s film commission announced Monday. The California Film Commission announced the latest round of credit allocations, totaling $81.7 million for 24 projects. The commission stated that “Michael” will generate $120 million in “qualified” in-state spending, which is more than any other project in the 14-year history of the tax credit program. The project was announced in January, with Jackson’s nephew Jaafar in the lead role. John Branca and John McClain, the executors of the Jackson estate, are producing with Graham King.

EXCLUSIVE: Michael Jackson will be played by the late icon’s 26-year old nephew Jaafar Jackson in the Antoine Fuqua-directed film biopic for Lionsgate. Fuqua just posted a confirmation on Instagram. The singer and songwriter is the son of Jermaine Jackson, who is the brother of Michael and member of The Jackson 5. Jaafar has been singing and dancing since age 12, and has showcased himself singing tunes from Sam Cooke to Marvin Gaye, along with originals.

Antoine Fuqua has been tapped to direct Lionsgate's upcoming  Michael Jackson biopic, which has been approved by the deceased pop star's estate.The 56-year-old filmmaker, best known for directing The Equalizer film franchise and Training Day, will be working alongside Oscar-winning producer Graham King on the film, titled Michael.'The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music are a deep part of who I am,' the director said in a statement.  Thrilling news: Antoine Fuqua has been tapped to direct Lionsgate's upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, which has been approved by the deceased pop star's estate; seen in 2019He continued: 'For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson. I was influenced to make music videos by watching his work – the first Black artist to play in heavy rotation on MTV.'  'His music and those images are part of my worldview, and the chance to tell his story on the screen alongside his music was irresistible,' Fuqua raved.Last February, Deadline reported Lionsgate had picked up distribution rights for the film, which was written by Gladiator writer John Logan.

EXCLUSIVE: Antoine Fuqua is set to direct Michael, a Lionsgate drama with script by telling the complex life story of the iconic singer Michael Jackson. A script is in by John Logan, and the film will be produced by Graham King, who turned the Freddie Mercury Queen story into the blockbuster Best Picture nominated Bohemian Rhapsody. GK Films will produce alongside co-executors of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain.

Michael Jackson is about to be the focus of a new biopic.

Michael Jackson’s legendary life is setting the biopic treatment.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaLionsgate will distribute a new Michael Jackson biopic that will be produced by “Bohemian Rhapsody’s” Graham King. The film is being made with the cooperation of the Michael Jackson estate, which may impact how it deals with the multiple allegations of child sexual abuse that were brought against the King of Pop over the course of his career and following his 2009 death.Entitled “Michael,” the film will be produced by King, who mined similar terrain with Freddie Mercury, and the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain.

The Graham King produced Michael Jackson biopic project, which is being made with the blessing of the pop legend’s estate, is seeing its worldwide distribution rights snapped up by Lionsgate.

Robin Gibb’s son has vowed there will be no Jive Talkin’ in the Bee Gees film – which will tell the iconic band’s story warts and all.