Michael Jackson’s THRILLER Film In The Works
Kenny Ortega, Michael Jackson’s former choreographer, is in talks to direct the big-screen version of THRILLER, based on the late pop star’s music video.
Academy Award-winning producer Graham King’s (The Tourist, The Run Diary) production company GK Films, is in active negotiations to make a deal to bring the music video to the big screen. The Hangover screenwriter Jeremy Garelick is penning the script, and Ortega (This is It, High School Musical) is set to direct the project, which carries a $50 million budget.
King and Ortega are still waiting for the okay from the Jackson estate; without this Thriller cannot continue. There has been no confirmation, and reps for Garelick, Ortega, and GK had not returned requests for comments.
The Thriller music video, which was more of a mini movie in itself, premiered in 1983 and has a running time of 14 minutes, was directed by John Landis (Trading Places). Landis is currently involved in a royalties dispute with the Jackson estate over proceeds from the video.
While details surrounding the film’s plot are scarce, Deadline reports that Thriller may follow the songs “folklore” and possibly include a story line involving the song’s narrator (Vincent Price).
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