Entertainment

Michael Jackson Biopic Denied Comedy Slot at Golden Globes

Jonah VillalbaPublished 4m ago2 min readBased on 6 sources
Michael Jackson Biopic Denied Comedy Slot at Golden Globes
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Lionsgate's push to have its Michael Jackson biopic Michael compete as a comedy or musical at the Golden Globes has been turned down.

The ruling, reported by Variety on 20 Oct, leaves the film currently categorised in the drama races. The studio can still appeal before the 31 Oct submission deadline.

Michael stars Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, in a performance that carries the film's main awards hopes. Director Antoine Fuqua included a letter with the studio's submission to argue for a place in the musical or comedy section, according to Variety. Co-stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long are less affected by the call, because the Globes' supporting actor and actress prizes do not split by genre.

That is a crowded field to enter. Drama at the Globes usually houses sweeping historical stories and heavyweight studio contenders, while musical or comedy offers a separate path for lighter films and stage-to-screen musicals. Lionsgate declined to comment on the denial, Variety reported.

The stakes are high. Michael opened on 24 April and went on to pass more than $1 billion in US dollars at the worldwide box office, making it the first biopic in history to reach that mark, according to Variety. The same report described it as Lionsgate's biggest release ever.

Lionsgate is still weighing whether to challenge the decision, Gold Derby reported on 20 Oct. Gold Derby first broke the news of the denied bid, according to Variety. The Globes did clear two other titles, Obsession and Tender Loving Care, to be considered as comedies.

What makes this stand out is timing. Nominations for the 84th Golden Globes will be announced on Monday, 7 Dec, with the ceremony hosted by Nikki Glaser set for Sunday, 10 Jan, according to Variety. For fans, this means Jackson's story will now have to run through drama if the ruling holds.

The Globes' own eligibility rules say films should be entered in the category that best matches their overall tone. That judgment call sits with the organisers, subject to appeal.

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