Sony Pictures Close To Deal On Michael Jackson's Final Rehearsal Footage, Feature Film Planned

Variety reports that Sony Pictures is close to making a deal to create a feature film on Michael Jackson's nearly 80 hours of rehearsal footage filmed for concerts the late singer was preparing to perform in London.

The studio, reports the paper, is expected to pay almost $50 million for the worldwide rights to AEG Entertainment, which owns the footage and showed it to several studios last week.

Variety reveals that "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega, who shot the rehearsal footage, is expected to direct the Jackson feature, and sources to the paper said he's already beginning to put together the footage so Sony can release the film before year's end.

Ortega has the time, as he won't begin directing the Paramount remake of "FOOTLOOSE" until next March, when star Chace Crawford is on hiatus from "Gossip Girl."

Several studios were impressed when shown the footage by AEG last week reports Variety, to read the entire article click here.

Jackson, 50, died Thursday, June 25th, after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles. 

In a phenomenal, unparalleled career, Michael Jackson sold more than 750 million records, had 13 number one singles - more than any other male artist - and is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and later as a solo artist in 2001. His numerous other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records, including one for "Thriller" as the world's best-selling album of all time - 100 million copies and counting.

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