When noted British actor and confirmed Caucasian male Joseph Fiennes announced last year that he’d play Michael Jackson for an upcoming TV series called Urban Myths, the public had an understandably adverse reaction. Though Fiennes confirmed that he’d portray the King of Pop after he got his controversial skin-whitening procedure, the fact remains that a white man would be playing an African-American man in a confusing sort of blackface without a literal black face. The Fiennes’ credit, he’s confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that he understands “why people are up in arms,” but hopes that audiences will be a little more understanding when they see that the show takes all sorts of liberties with the personal lives of historical figures.
Dramatized event series of major cultural touchstones have been on fire since FX’s People v. O.J. Simpson, and it looks like Michael Jackson may next get the TV treatment. J.J. Abrams has re-teamed with Tavis Smiley for an event series based on the last days of pop icon Michael Jackson, based on author Smiley’s book.
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