Features
Jackson Concert Film Set For Oct. Release, Burial Postponed To Sept.
Although the world never got the chance to witness Michael Jackson’s 50-date residency at London’s O2 Arena, fans in select cities will get the chance to see rehearsal footage of the comeback tour in the “Michael Jackson: This Is It” film, which is set for a limited two-week release.
The film’s release date has been pushed up two days to Oct. 28 with tickets for the exclusive flick going on sale in most cities Sept. 27. Although it hasn’t been announced which cities will screen the film, “Michael Jackson: This Is It” is set for release worldwide.
Jackson died of cardiac arrest June 25 at age 50, just weeks before his comeback “This Is It” tour was set to kick off. The 50-date residency was scheduled to begin July 13 with shows through March 2010.
The film was made possible because of a deal AEG Live and co-executors of Jackson’s estate made with Sony. Sony Pictures Entertainment paid $60 million for the rights to the film.
Producers AEG Live shot digital video of Jackson’s almost daily rehearsals in Los Angeles and the film was drawn from most than 100 hours of footage. The film chronicles the months April through June 2009, giving fans an intimate peek behind the scenes as Jackson developed, created and rehearsed for the sold-out run of dates, working with singers, dancers, musicians, choreographers and special-effects experts.
“I have never been partners with a more creative, innovative or groundbreaking entertainer than Michael Jackson,” Randy Phillips, President & CEO, AEG Live, said in a statement.
“While the concerts would have been the greatest shows in the history of music, our film will provide a historic event for Michael’s fans to see for themselves the genius that he was and the creativity, talent and imagination that the entire cast devoted to create the ‘greatest concert that never happened’.”
Photo: AP Photo
Announcing he is set to play ten live concerts at the London O2 Arena
The film is being directed by Kenny Ortega, Jackson’s longtime creative partner and director of the “This Is It” tour. Ortega also collaborated with Jackson on his “Dangerous” and “HIStory” tours, having worked with The King of Pop for over 20 years. The Emmy Award winner also directed the “High School Musical” movies and the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus “Best of Both Worlds Tour.”
“This film is Michael’s gift to his fans,” Ortega said in a statement. “It’s a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius’s world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before — this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the `This Is It’ collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project.”
A spokesman for the Jackson family announced that the singer’s burial has been postponed until Sept. 3. MJ will be buried at a private evening ceremony at The Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn in Glendale, Calif., just north of downtown Los Angeles. He was originally scheduled to be laid to rest Aug. 29, which would have been his 51st birthday. No reason was given for the delay.