Michael Jackson to be Played By White Actor for 9/11 Road Trip Film

A white actor has been cast to play Michael Jackson in 9/11 road trip film.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

There's a lot to chew on for this story so bear with us. A film about Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," is on its way following Jackson on a road trip (reportedly a true story) with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando as the trio leaves New York in the days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Jackson's role has been cast and he will be played by a white, British actor. 

The Guardianreports Joseph Fiennes, best known for starring in Shakespeare in Love and who was recently seen in season two of American Horror Story, has been cast as Jackson. The British TV movie titled Elizabeth, Michael, and Marlon stems from a story reported in Vanity Fair, where Jackson, who had a storied friendship with Taylor, invited her and Brando to a concert of his at New York's Madison Square Garden. Because the 9/11 attacks shut down air travel they reportedly rented a car to road trip back to California. A former Jackson employee said, "They actually got as far as Ohio—all three of them, in a car they drove themselves," adding that many pit stops at fast food places were made thanks to Brando.  However an assistant to Taylor disputed the claims to Vanity Fair with The Guardianwriting, "the actor stayed behind in New York, visiting Ground Zero and praying in a church."

Elizabeth, Michael, and Marlon won't see Lindsay Lohan reprising her role as Taylor. Instead Stockard Channing a.k.a "Rizzo" from Grease will portray Taylor.

Fiennes said of the movie, "It's a fun, lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek road trip of what celebrity of that kind is like. But also it's rather beautiful and poignant about their relationships."

Latest in Pop Culture