A Fiennes mess?

[Gob]

Joseph Fiennes has admitted he was "shocked" to be cast as Michael Jackson in a TV programme for Sky Arts.



The actor plays the singer in the comedy about a supposed road trip taken by Jackson, Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Some fans have reacted angrily to the casting, but Fiennes said he thought Jackson was "probably closer to my colour than his original colour".

Sky Arts said producers had "creative freedom" in the casting.

Fiennes said he believed Jackson - who died in 2009 - had a "pigmentation issue" with his skin, so the issue of race should not come into play.

But he told Entertainment Tonight: "I'm a white, middle-class guy from London - I'm as shocked [about the casting] as you might be.

"It's a light comedy look. It's not in any way malicious. It's actually endearing. And the more I actually looked at Michael - it's great, as an actor, to have so much to copy and look at in interviews - the more I kind of fell in love with him."

Describing the plot of the 30-minute programme - titled Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon - Fiennes said: "Michael and two of his best buddies, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando, happened to be in New York the night before 9/11.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Should have been a black actor in white face!

[Bicycle Bill]

"Some fans have reacted angrily to the casting....."

No shit, Sherlock Holmes!!

But a black Hermione Granger (upcoming), or a black Little Orphan Annie ("Annie", 2014), or a black Cinderella, along with a black Fairy Godmother ("Cinderella" TV movie, 1997) — well, that's OK and if anyone dares to object or question this they are being ignorant, racist assholes.

-"BB"-

[RayThom]

Jazz Singer... Pop Singer -- what's the dif?

[Guinevere]

Much ado about nothing. It's art! Which means it's subjective and allowed to be creative. No, expected to be creative. Think outside the box, color outside the lines, use your imagination. I don't care if there's a black Harry Potter or a purple Sherlock Holmes. Just make an interesting story and do it well.

[Sue U]

Much ado about nothing. It's art! Which means it's subjective and allowed to be creative. No, expected to be creative. Think outside the box, color outside the lines, use your imagination. I don't care if there's a black Harry Potter or a purple Sherlock Holmes. Just make an interesting story and do it well.

Also too, it's a comedy, not a documentary or even a bio-pic. Why not have a white guy play MJ? My question is, who are they going to get to play Liz Taylor, and does the actress need to have violet eyes? Who's going to play Brando, and is it On-The-Waterfront Brando or Tahitian behemoth Brando?

[Lord Jim]

a supposed road trip taken by Jackson, Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor after the 9/11 terror attacks.

I have to say, that really does sound rich with comedic potential...

[MajGenl.Meade]

By the end of the trip, Taylor would have married both of them (and divorced at least one); Brando would still be muttering about his own south tower tumbling; and Jackson... well, he'd be bleaching his face and complaining about the top being down the whole time.

[RayThom]

"¡Three Amigos!-- II"

[Joe Guy]

I would cast Ice Cube as Marlon Brando and Rosanne Barr as Elizabeth Taylor.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I would cast Ice Cube as Marlon Brando and Rosanne Barr as Elizabeth Taylor.

Now that I might go see.