Joseph Fiennes has been cast as Michael Jackson in a new British television special, TheWrap has learned.
Fiennes will play the late King of Pop alongside Brian Cox as Marlon Brando and Stockard Channing as Elizabeth Taylor in a half-hour comedy special set to air on Sky TV.
The film, entitled “Elizabeth, Michael, and Marlon,” will be based on a story first reported in Vanity Fair. A former employee of Jackson’s claims that the musician invited the legendary actors to see him perform in New York just before 9/11.
But after the terrorist attacks that toppled the World Trade Center towers, the three allegedly rented a car and tried to drive back to California on their own, making it as far as Ohio.
Fiennes is best known for his role in the 1998 Oscar darling “Shakespeare in Love.” He has also appeared in “American Horror Story” and the Dwayne Johnson action film “Hercules.”
Jackson was one of the most popular musicians of the 20th century, with his hit single “Thriller” selling over 30 million copies alone as of 2015. His later life was marred by accusations of child molestation, though Jackson was never convicted. He died in 2009.
Ben Palmer will direct with Neil Forsyth set to write the screenplay. Sky Arts is producing with Ralf Little executive producing.