White British actor Joseph Fiennes has signed on to play black pop artists Michael Jackson in an upcoming made-for-TV half-hour comedy special to air on Sky Arts in the UK, according to a report in The Guardian.
The special will tell the legendary story of Jackson’s effort to get back to Los Angeles following the 9/11 terrorist attacks; in 2011, Vanity Fair reported that he and actors Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando embarked on a cross-country road trip while all air traffic was grounded.
Social media has reacted to the casting announcement with a mix of outraged indignation and sighs of resignation.
Too bad light skinned African-descended actors don’t exist…wait… “Joseph Fiennes to play Michael Jackson” https://t.co/y07VpV6eht
— Emily Mills (@millbot) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes can play Michael Jackson. (A real person). But Idris can’t play James Bond (a fake spy for a fake agency)? Cool, cool, cool. — Prentice Penny (@The_A_Prentice) January 27, 2016
I’m TOTALLY on board with Joseph Fiennes playing Michael Jackson IF AND ONLY IF Angela Bassett is cast as Elizabeth Taylor
— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes will play Michael Jackson in a 9/11 road-trip drama. Let me go pick up the exploded parts of my head. https://t.co/2ZQKH5pAQK
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) January 26, 2016
According the The Guardian, Stockard Channing will play Taylor and Brian Cox will play Brando.