Despite recent exaggerated tabloid reports that Michael Jackson is slowly deteriorating due to multiple illnesses, he has chosen to remove the Zorro-like mask he tends to sport to make Broadway his next conquest. Broadway producer James L. Nederlander has acquired the rights to ‘Thriller,’ the music-video best known for its zombie dance scene.’
There is no news yet on who will write, direct or choreograph the adaptation of the horror-film spoof to the big stage.’ Songs from the chart-topping albums ‘Thriller’ and ‘Off the Wall’ will most certainly be included.’ ‘ ‘
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‘I love the idea of making ‘Thriller’ a musical. Girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy has big secret, now what?’ said Nederlander in an interview with The Associated Press.’ He currently heads the company that owns nine Broadway theaters.
The ‘Thriller’ video tells a love story complete with zombies, werewolves and a leg-swinging dance. After Jackson tells his date that he wants to ‘go steady’ with her, he begins to transform into a ‘werecat,’ revealing the big secret that he warned her about.’
Next, the couple finds themselves in a theater actually watching the horrifying scene unfold on screen. The date runs out scared and the pair walks by a graveyard full of zombies on the way home. The video ends when the date wakes up in her house and realizes the whole night was a dream.’ Jackson refuses to end in this state of normalcy, however, and grins at the camera with yellow eyes before the credits roll.’
‘Thriller’ won a Grammy in 1984 for Best Video Album and one in 1985 for Best Video, Long Form.’ It also acquired 3 MTV Music Awards in 1984 and a final one in 1999 for being number one on the list of 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made.’ ‘
Legal problems, however, may prevent ‘Thriller’ from taking the stage any time soon.’ Filmmaker John Landis, director of the ‘Thriller’ video, claims that Jackson still owes him 50 percent of the net profits from the video, according to E! News Online. 50 percent, in this case, is thought to be about $1 million dollars.
Some of Landis’ other film credits include ‘Animal House,’ ‘Blues Brothers,’ ‘Twilight Zone: The Movie’ and ‘An American Werewolf in London.” ‘
In an interview with The Wrap, an online entertainment site, Landis’ attorney Martin Feldman said he did not understand why Jackson would simply not pay the money.’ Jackson has refused to comment at this point.’
Despite the legal delay, however, expect ‘Thriller’ to debut as another celebrity-inspired Broadway hit.’ ‘ ‘
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