The decision to cast White actor Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson has raised many eyebrows, but the star continues to defend his role.
Fiennes opened up to the Associated Press, saying that the casting process was completely colorblind and admits that the portrayal will be challenging but tasteful.
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“This is territory that is sensitive,” he said. “One must determine if this portrayal is one that is going to be positive entertainment, and one that will not bring about division and put anyone’s noses out of joint, so I went with the mind that this was a positive light-hearted comedy.”
The British actor was cast as the King of Pop for the upcoming comedy Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon, based on a reported road trip taken by Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando from New York to California just days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Fiennes admits that when the casting was announced, he “thought someone had got it wrong,” but he ensures that “If [the project] promotes stereotyping, then it’s wrong.”