Michael Jackson Will Be Played By A White Man In New Movie
Joseph Fiennes is responding to controversy over the news that he will play Michael Jackson in an upcoming comedy. The outcry stems from the fact that Fiennes, who is white, will portray the black icon in the one-off, half-hour Sky Arts comedy, “Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon.”
The special will follow the supposedly real-life story of how Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando took a road trip to leave New York after the 9/11 attacks.
Fiennes said he was also surprised to be cast as the legendary pop star.
“I’m a white, middle-class guy from London,” the 45-year-old actor told ET. “I’m as shocked as you may be.”
Still, Fiennes said it’s not so far off for him to play the singer.
“[Jackson] definitely had an issue — a pigmentation issue — and that’s something I do believe,” he said. “He was probably closer to my color than his original color.”
