Audiences will get to see Michael Jackson perform one more time later this year after a judge Monday approved a deal to produce a movie fashioned from footage of his final rehearsals.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff signed off Friday on a deal between Michael Jackson's estate, concert promoter AEG Live and Columbia Pictures. He announced the ruling Monday during a hearing where a separate merchandising deal is being considered.
Columbia Pictures announced the movie will be in theaters on Oct. 30. Which will be confusing to children, with all the people dressing up as Michael Jackson and standing in movie theater lines a whole week before Halloween.
The movie will be crafted
from hundreds of hours of behind-the-scenes and rehearsal footage shot in Los Angeles weeks before Jackson was to kick off 50 comeback concerts in London. It will also feature interviews with Jackson's friends and collaborators. Portions of the movie will be shown in 3-D, the studio announced Monday.
Nothing like a dignified ending for a great artist.
"People who have seen this footage are astounded by the amazing quality of Michael Jackson's performance," said Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. "This historic recording of the last time he sang and danced on stage shows the legendary artist in an incredibly powerful way, with crystal clear images and sound."
Right. Now, quick, put on those3-D glasses before he moonwalks.
Columbia Pictures paid $60 million for rights to the film, and the contract states Jackson's estate is slated to receive 90 percent of its profits.
Jackson died on June 25, days before he was set to embark to England for his comeback shows.
Beckloff had until Monday to approve the film and allowed Jackson's mother, Katherine, to review the contracts and raise any objections. Her attorneys have raised questions about other agreements concerning AEG Live and merchandiser Bravado. The estate wants to enter into agreements with the two companies for merchandising. The judge is considering appointing an attorney to represent Jackson's children's interests in the deals.
In other Michael Jackson news that may or may not be true, Britain's Daily Star reported Jackson was interred in a mausoleum owned by Motown mogul Berry Gordy, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills on Thursday.
Family members, including Jackson's dad Joe and sister La Toya, were allegedly present at the secret ceremony, according to the report. "There were no prayers said, no speeches, everyone just reflected silently on their personal memories of Michael," said a source. Jackson's friend Uri Geller told British morning show GMTV, "As far as I understand he has (been buried), but rumors are flying constantly non stop."
And in even more Michael Jackson news, the Los Angeles County coroner's office says it has finished its probe into what killed Jackson but will not release the results yet. The coroner's office said Monday that police have asked for the cause and manner of Jackson's death to remain sealed while detectives investigate the events leading up to his death.
JIM CARREY BAILS ON CURLY: Jim Carrey has walked away from Peter and Bobby Farrelly's upcoming remake of "The Three Stooges," according to the Boston Globe.
Carrey was expected to take on the role of silver screen clown Curly in the long-awaited film, after entering negotiations in April. Carrey had even begun to master his comedy voice and started to pile on the pounds to play the chubby character, with his girlfriend Jenny McCarthy admitting fans would be impressed with his performance.
But according to the Globe, Peter Farrelly has confirmed Carrey is no longer involved in the project — although Paul Giamatti is. The "Sideways" star will fill the role vacated by Sean Penn, who quit the film earlier this year citing personal reasons.
NEXT GENERATION SET TO BATTLE COMMIES: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's son Connor is set to follow in the footsteps of his action hero father by landed a role in a big budget remake of "Red Dawn."
The 14-year old, who was adopted by his parents, along with his sister Isabella, first proved his acting skills with a role opposite Will Smith in 2008 film "Seven Pounds." In the new version of the 1984 action film, he'll play the youngest in a group of high school students who wage war against foreign invaders.
Wait a second. This is Tom Cruise's son, so we may need some clarification on "foreign invaders."
Connor Cruise joins Australian stars Jed Eckert and Isabel Lucas in the project, which is due to start filming in Detroit next month and slated to hit cinemas in 2010, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE BREEDING AGAIN: Elisabeth Hasselbeck of "The View" is the mother of a third child, a boy.
Hasselbeck gave birth Sunday afternoon to her second son, Isaiah Timothy, at a New York City hospital. She's married to former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck. The couple has two other children: Grace Elisabeth, who's 4, and Taylor Thomas, who's 20 months.
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