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michael-jackson-biopic-producers-bohemian-rhapsody
SANTA MARIA, CA - JUNE 13: Michael Jackson prepares to enter the Santa Barbara County Superior Court to hear the verdict read in his child molestation case June 13, 2005 in Santa Maria, California. After seven days of deliberation the jury has reached a not guilty verdict on all 10 counts in the trial against Michael Jackson. Jackson was charged in a 10-count indictment with molesting a boy, plying him with liquor and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. He pleaded innocent. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian-Pool/Getty Images)

Michael Jackson's Estate Enlists 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Producer for Official Biopic

michael-jackson-biopic-producers-bohemian-rhapsody Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian-Pool/Getty Images

Graham King and John Logan will handle the film's production and screenwriting duties.

An official Michael Jackson biopic is in the works.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the late singer's estate has chosen Graham King to oversee the film's production. King is a four-time Academy Award nominee, most notably taking home Best Picture for The Departed in 2007.

John Logan will reportedly write the film's screenplay. Logan and King previously worked together on Hugo and The Aviator. Logan also served as the screenwriter for the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre. The film will span Jackson's entire life and career, from his start with the Jackson Five to legal struggles and allegations of sexual abuse.

The singer's estate recently won a lawsuit with HBO-Time Warner over the controversial documentary Leaving Neverland. Neverland featured graphic firsthand accounts from two of Jackson's accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. The two recounted the timelines of their relationship with Jackson. Robson and Safechuck are also facing a 'symbolic' defamation lawsuit filed by three Michael Jackson fan groups based in France.

Graham King has worked on a controversial biopic before. He reportedly pushed to make a Freddie Mercury biopic for years before 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody. The film received criticism for glossing over the Queen frontman's drug use and 1991 death from AIDS. In order to convince members of the band, Fox hired Bryan Singer to direct Rhapsody. Weeks before the project was done, however, Singer was fired. Rumors of Singer's lack of preparation swirled. Shortly after the news broke, The Atlantic published an extensive report of Singer's past, including multiple accusations of sexual misconduct over the course of 20 years.

There is no word as to when the Jackson biopic will begin filming.

H/T: The Fader

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter,