biopic

Michael Jackson Biopic Gets Green Light, Antoine Fuqua As Director

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Production company Lionsgate just greenlit a biopic on Michael Jackson’s life and artistry and found its director. Moreover, Antoine Fuqua will direct, who previously helmed Emanciption and Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers. As Deadline reports, the tentative title for the upcoming film is Michael.

VARIOUS, VARIOUS – JUNE 25: Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1986. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Additionally, the report shared some other details about the movie’s production and crew. John Logan (They/Them, Skyfall) will write the script, with production handled by Graham King of Bohemian Rhapsody for GK Films. Also, producers include co-executors of the King of Pop’s estate, John Branca and John McClain.

Furthermore, sources told Deadline that the upcoming film will cover the highs and lows of Jackson’s musical legacy. However, it also plans to address the accusations of pedophilia, grooming, and misconduct that have defined public discourse around him for years now.

Meanwhile, Fuqua will dive into Michael after production wraps up for his next film, The Equalizer 3 with Denzel Washington. Moreover, GK Films’ previous music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody raked in a whopping $900 million in worldwide gross sales. Still, that film was pretty polarizing, so Michael has big shoes to fill, but bigger ones to prove wrong.

“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,” said Fuqua. Before his breakout film Training Day in 2001, he started directing videos for Prince, Lil Wayne, Stevie Wonder, and more.

“For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson,” he continued. “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.”

What do you think of the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic and its new director? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest news on music history in pop culture.

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Mack Wilds Wants To Play LL Cool J In Biopic

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Mack Wilds says that he wants to portray LL Cool J if a biopic is made about the legendary rapper. The Wire actor put his name in the running for the role after Cool J tweeted about making a biopic, earlier this week.

“Should I do a bio pic?” LL Cool J captioned a series of photos of himself.

NEWARK, NJ – AUGUST 05: Tristan Wilds attends Black Girls Rock! 2017 at NJPAC on August 5, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

Wilds responded to the post directly by writing, “I mean… what are we talking about?”

Afterward, he elaborated on the idea while speaking with HipHopDX.

“Hell yes! I’d love to play LL,” he told the outlet. “I’ve been trying to figure out if he’d do a biopic for years.”

From there, he reflected on the impact LL Cool J had on his career.

“LL was my very first concert,” he explained. “He did a free concert at Wingate Park in Brooklyn. My dad took me ’cause he saw I really connected to his music. He was my first understanding of stage presence.”

Wild has previously starred in The Wire, Shots Fired, 90210, and more over the years. In addition to his acting career, Wilds has been releasing music. He dropped his debut album, New York: A Love Story, in 2013. Method Man, Raekwon, and Doug E. Fresh all made appearances on the project. Wilds earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album, but lost out to Rihanna’s Unapologetic.

He released his latest project, AfterHours, in 2017.

It remains unclear if LL Cool J is serious about going forward with a biopic, but look out for Wilds’ involvement if he does.

Check out Mack Wilds’ response to LL Cool J below.

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Keyshia Cole Checks Person Who Claims She’s “Degrading” Her Mother In Biopic

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The loss of a parent is already difficult, but Keyshia Cole has publicly grieved the passing of both her parents. The singer’s mother, Frankie Lons, reportedly died of a drug overdose following years of struggling with addiction. Lons amassed a global following after appearing alongside Cole on reality TV, and her fans took to social media to share more positive memories.

Since then, Cole revealed she was working on a biopic about her life. It was recently announced that actress Debbie Morgan would portray Lons in the forthcoming film. While this seems like good news, a Twitter user accused Cole of “degrading” her late mother “for her benefit.”

NEW YORK – JUNE 19: Singer Keyshia Cole (L) and her mother Frankie Lons leave the “Late Show With Dave Letterman” taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater June 19, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

Read More: Keyshia Cole Breaks Silence On Mother’s Death: “This Is So Hard”

“I said it! As soon as @KeyshiaCole momma died she was going to used that opportunity as she always does and make it work for her,” the person wrote. “Now she is making a movie about Frankie she always degrading them for her benefit.”

Keyshia caught wind of the criticism and defended herself against the accusation.

“Degrading my mother. ? I wanted the best for my mom,” she said. “You prefer my story not be my story? At times I have too. But my truth is my truth. I just live mine loud. (while some suffer in silence. But This will come wit all that I do, So speak YOUR TRUTH, but yours ain’t mine. 💕.”

Read More: Keyshia Cole Details Mother’s Funeral: “Would Love To See All My Siblings”

“And I’m addition to that I have recorded a record that will be in the movie dedicated to my mother,” she also stated. “(You all may or may not like it) but….. This movie was healing in some ways for me, so very appreciative of having this happen.”

After Cole responded, several of the singer’s fans also gave the Twitter user a piece of their minds. It didn’t stop the person from continuing to spew harsh comments. Check it out below.

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