Michael Jackson’s Thriller to become a feature-length movie

October 29, 2010 By Jeffrey Van Camp

Michael Jackson's famous Thriller music video may soon be a feature film directed by Kenny Ortega, the man behind 'High School Musical' and 'This Is It.'

Michael Jackson’s Thriller made history as one of the most cinematic music videos of all time. Now it may make history as the only music video to inspire a big-budget, feature-length film. Deadline reports that a number of studios are bidding on the rights to make a Thriller movie. Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) is currently hooked to direct while Jeremy Garelick (The Hangover) is set to write the screenplay. The film will have a budget under $50 million.

Ortega is most famously known for his High School Musical movies, which made a star out of Zac Efron, but the director also helmed the cult 1990s Halloween movie Hocus Pocus, starring Bette Middler and Sarah Jessica Parker as witches who hope to regain their youth by sucking the life out of children. He also directed and choreographed Michael Jackson’s This Is It, which chronicles the singer’s preparation for his final tour.

The plot of the Thriller movie is still unknown, but it’s presumed that Vincent Price’s voice will be used just as it was in the 14-minute music video. John Landis (Animal House, Coming to America) directed the original music video, which had Michael Jackson taking a young woman to the movies only to transform into a zombie and dance in sync with a group of rhythmically-gifted undead folks. Rod Temperton, who wrote the Thriller song, is also involved in the film.

GK Films, Fox 2000, Lionsgate, and Summit Entertainment are all bidding on the film, which will not be possible unless a deal can be made with Michael Jackson’s estate, though such a deal may be forthcoming.

This isn’t the only Michael Jackson news. Cirque du Soleil is rumored to be discussing some live Jackson shows. Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock are also pondering a movie about the singer’s childhood. Finally, a MMO massively multiplayer King of Pop game is in the works.

Showing 6 comments

Alexa at 7:23pm 26th November 2010 Michael Jackson was the highlight of all news overtime anytime they couldn't just let him go never he was like the medias favorite toy per-say they like messed him up to want to make his life so rediculus that's why he keppted hi life so darn private i wish i could have helped him i wish i could have saved him he could have been here to see his grandchildern and live happy with his childern it makes me cry I LOVE YOU MICHAEL JACKSON ILL LOVE YOU AS LONG AS I LIVE <3
agree at 4:33pm 8th November 2010 Angela, my thoughts exactly. he was treated like he was a parasite. my gosh, what is wronbg with all of this :(: and where were all of these kind caring people who he was alive? laughing behind his back, or on tv, or anywhere they could! i am so angry because it is like all of the horrible treatment, the witchmhunts and gang stalking and nasty things they tried to connect to him, no one remembers suddenly. and they have moved on to witch hunt someone else i guess. why did they do this|? what was there aim? and now that it's all done, they got rid of him, are they satisfied? to murder someone daly just to have someone to hurt (or for what he owned?), the way they did to him. i dont know anymore, what is wrong with the people in this world. this is all too much :/
Angela at 9:30am 8th November 2010 It makes me so angry that Michael was the butt of jokes, accusations, and contempt for so much of the end of his life, and now that he's passed away the media is highlighting what an amazing and legendary person he was and everyone is profitting off of his life's work. Why couldn't he have enjoyed some of this respect and admiration while he was still alive?
Will at 8:49am 29th October 2010 Who plays Michael?
1. margie peterson at 5:53am 31st October 2010 michael plays michael or i don't wont to see it.
  1. ore masta at 1:41pm 1st November 2010 but thats impossible >.>