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.”
According to Lionsgate, the film will address all aspects of Jackson’s life, though it is unclear how the film will address the many controversies involving the late music icon, given that the film is made in conjunction with his estate, which has defended him against accusations of sexually abusing children.
Lionsgate will handle domestic distribution on Michael and will seek an international partner on the feature. Music biopics have proven lucrative in recent years, with the pre-pandemic Bohemian Rhapsody earning $910 million globally and Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis managing to lure older audiences back to theaters and rake in $287.3 million globally last year.
Fuqua last directed Will Smith’s Emancipation and is filming The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington. His long career has also included Training Day, which won Washington an Oscar. He is repped by LBI Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro.