Michael Jackson movie coming out Oct. 30 with 3-D sequences [Updated]

Michael Jackson will be hitting the big screen on one of the toughest dates of the year at the box office.

Sony Pictures today confirmed the long-reported deal that it is joining with Sony Music Entertainment to release a movie featuring behind-the-scenes and rehearsal footage from preparation for the late singer's "This Is It" concert series in London.

Sony paid $60 million to concert producer AEG and the singer's estate for rights to turn the footage into a movie. Though the deal was negotiated last month, it was officially approved by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge today.

The studio will release the film, also called "This Is It," worldwide on Friday, Oct. 30. Sony will no doubt be tying the opening into Michael Jackson's Halloween-oriented classic album and video "Thriller." But with the holiday falling on a Saturday, attendance will likely be soft on what's normally the busiest movie-going day of the week.

Many of the fall's best release dates are already taken, however. The only other movie currently scheduled to open Oct. 30 is The Weinstein Co.'s comedy "Youth in Revolt."

Sony also revealed that some sequences, which were shot for use in the concert, will be in digital 3-D.

[Updated 2:55 p.m.: Now that the deal has been approved by the court, said a source close to the project, Sony will begin negotiations with "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega, Jackson's creative partner on the concert series, to direct the movie.

That will consist primarily of sorting through and editing the hundreds of hours of footage for which Sony has obtained theatrical rights.]

-- Ben Fritz

Photo: Michael Jackson rehearsing for his "This Is It" concert series. Credit: Kevin Mazur, AP.

Comments

[Gabrielle Jackson]

As much as I'm eager to watch the footage I wish that Sony wasn't the distributor given MJ's bitter history with them in the end... this feels wrong as Michael isn't here to voice his opinion. =(

[YSI]

can't wait!

[Rick]

there's always a buck to be made off of someone's death

[xfghxfghx]

Captain EO....dummies

[MJ Fan]

so so so cool I can't wait to see the movie and to bid on this http://www.profilesinhistory.com/new/index.php?option=com_jackson

[LAX]

I think I will wait for the reviews before going to see this one.

[Jahanzeb]

can't wait. RIP MJ.

[carol calangi]

can't wait to see MJ on the big screen....

[paola]

why sony????? do you really think michael woul have give the rigths for a movie to sony??????

[jacob lewis]

I cant believe thier making mj's rehersals a
movie.

[Vanessa]

If there's a midnight show, I'm going!!!! Even though its weird doing this after his death, I'm not missing an oppertunity to see MJ's big comeback tour on the silverscreen for ANYTHING!!!!

[THOMAS ALLEN SHEA]

MICHAEL JACKSON IS A GIGANTIC FAN OF MINE. I LOVE ALL HIS MOVIES AND MUSIC. I AM WICKED SAD THAT HE DIED BECAUSE HE WAS A GREAT SINGER AND PERSON TO EVERYONE IN THIS WHOLE WORLD. HE MENT ALOT WITH ALL HIS MUSIC. MICHAEL JACKSON TO ME WILL BE MISSED SO SO MUCH

SINCERLY THOMAS SHEA

[Meredith Weber]

I'm very excited for this film. But I agree with Gabrielle Jackson. He can't make the choice himself.:/ We miss you, Michael, we love you.

[beverly m. warden]

can you give me an idea of how much the tickets for the "this is it" movie are going to be. also, are there going to be just a selected few theaters showing the movie or will it be nation wide

[Yosief]

It's so great to hear this news of the king pop. Of course I will be great to see on the big screen THIS IS IT . cos michael is always will be with us . and he is the greates entertainer ever lived. the movie will be the most succeful everseen. god bless MJ

[stef]

im so exited to see teh movie im am so a fan of michael jackson

[Andrew]

Holy hell...they are putting this precious footage in the hands of the director for High School Musical??? Man oh man

[porscha]

i am so excitedd!!!
im buying tickets right awayy!!!
i CAN NOT WAITT
ahhhhh
i love you michael jackson so much
i hope you are watching down
on all of these people who love you
like me(:
now you have peace and you still have your fame

[Robert Bunag]

This movie will beat Titanic and The Dark Knight's Gross at the box office.

[ngozi assata]

i cannot wait !!
i love you mike ! =]

[CRIANA]

OMFG IM SO HAPPY IMMA DEFINITELY GONNA GO SEE DAT MOVIE I LUV MICHAEL JACK.R.I.P. BABY :)

[tommy]

I'm really happy to see a mj movie come out. Mark my ticket I'm there! When I was young. Every new years eve I would attempt to do the moon walk . It was a real fun and motivating move to do. "Mj is music"- GOD bless y'all. And p.s. BRING BACK captain EO . The best thing disneyland could possibly ever have had. Do it 4 mj.please

[tommy]

I'm really happy to see a mj movie come out. Mark my ticket I'm there! When I was young. Every new years eve I would attempt to do the moon walk . It was a real fun and motivating move to do. "Mj is music"- GOD bless y'all. And p.s. BRING BACK captain EO . The best thing disneyland could possibly ever have had. Do it 4 mj.please

[tommyc]

U

[sylvia]

omg!!! im so gnna go to the mj movie!!! i so cnt wait!!! whooo!!!! i dnt care if the tickets are expensive ill will be there to wtch this precious footage of his last rehearsal!!!! we love u king of pop!!! u will alwaes and forever be king of pop!!! r.i.p michael joseph jackson!!!!

luv u baby!!!! moonwlk to heaven nw!!