Judge OKs Michael Jackson movie

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY

LOS ANGELES — Audiences will get to see the King of Pop perform one more time later this year after a judge approved a major deal to produce a movie fashioned from footage of his final rehearsals.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff approved a deal Friday involving Michael Jackson’s estate, concert promoter AEG Live and Columbia Pictures. He announced the ruling Monday during a hearing where a separate merchandising deal was being considered.

Columbia Pictures announced the movie will be in theaters Oct. 30. It 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, and feature interviews with Jackson’s friends and collaborators.

Portions of the movie will be shown in 3-D, the studio announced Monday.

“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.”

Under the terms of the proposed contract, the film will have to be screened for Jackson’s estate and cannot include any footage that puts the superstar in a bad light.

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 June 25, days before he was set to embark to England for his comeback shows.

The judge had until Monday to approve the film and allowed Jackson’s mother, Katherine, to review the contracts and raise any objections. Katherine Jackson did not object to the film, but 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.

Beckloff declined to rule on the merchandising deals Monday.

He wants to appoint an attorney to represent the interests of Jackson’s three children, who are substantial beneficiaries to their father’s estate, along with Katherine Jackson.

The proposed agreements would give Bravado worldwide rights to sell Jackson-themed goods and exhibit memorabilia.

Beckloff said Monday he will decide on the issue in a week, if not sooner.

The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.