By Kelley Bierkortte
Joseph Fiennes has been cast as Michael Jackson in an upcoming TV drama airing on Sky Arts. The story recounts the alleged road trip Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando took following the September 11, 2001 attacks. The famous trio reportedly travelled from New York to Ohio in an attempt to get home to Los Angeles.
In the days prior to 9/11 Jackson preformed two concerts at Madison Square Garden; to which he invited Taylor and Brando to attend.
According to Vanity Fair, the icons tried to escape New York City following the attacks. Unable to fly to Los Angeles, they were forced to take a cross-country road trip. According to a former employee of Jackson's, the stars escaped to New Jersey before heading for California. "They actually got as far as Ohio- all three of them, in a car they drove themselves," he claimed.
In an opposing claim, Taylor's close friend and assistant insists that she did not escape New York with Jackson and Brando. He recalls, "Elizabeth stayed behind, where she went to a church to pray, and she went to an armory where people were who couldn't get home or who'd stayed behind to look for the missing. She also went down to Ground Zero, where she met with first responders. Eventually the airports opened and she flew home."
Despite the conflicting stories, the program will include Taylor going along for the ride.
The production will star Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson, Stockard Channing as Elizabeth Taylor and Brian Cox as Marlon Brando.
Fiennes' role has brought about some controversy across social media. Some people have expressed their opinion of a white man playing Jackson, while others use the hashtag #MakeAMovieWhiter. One twitter user said, "Congratulations to noted African-American actor Joseph Fiennes on being cast as Michael Jackson..."
Congratulations to noted African-American actor Joseph Fiennes on being cast as Michael Jackson...
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes has been cast as #MichaelJackson in new drama... Personally, I would have gone for Sandra Bullock. pic.twitter.com/iw7aY8vlDv
— News Thing on RT UK (@NewsThingRT) January 27, 2016
Too crazy for words! #JosephFiennes playing Michael Jackson! What next? Tom Cruise playing Muhammad Ali? Uma Thurman playing Rosa Parks?
— Duncan Whitehead (@DuncanWhitehead) January 27, 2016
#MakeAMovieWhiterJoseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson in oh wait
— Elizabeth Norton (@liznorton88) January 27, 2016
Think Joseph Fiennes should be cast as Jackson, especially following the backlash of #OscarssoWhite? Do you think Joseph Fiennes should be cast as Jackson, especially following the backlash of #OscarsSoWhite?
Check out Brooke Shields on Larry King Now discussing her close relationship with Michael Jackson.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC, its affiliates, or its employees.
