7 Films That Could Have Featured Michael Jackson

Though his personal life was often the subject of controversy and public scrutiny, Michael Jackson (1958-2009), a legendary singer, songwriter, and performer, dominated the music scene as the most successful recording artist of the 20th century. As reported by Billboard, Jackson's album sales surpassed one billion copies, with Thriller alone selling over 100 million units.

But Jackson's aspirations stretched beyond music. Over the years, he sought to break into Hollywood, attempting to land major movie roles. His unique look and larger-than-life persona made it difficult for him to blend into a character, yet he relentlessly pursued this dream, even studying acting under his close friend, Marlon Brando. In celebration of what would have been Jackson's 60th birthday, we take a look at seven film projects he desperately tried to be part of.

1. WILLY WONKA // CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2005)

When Michael Jackson discovered that Warner Bros. had tapped Tim Burton to bring Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the big screen—following the 1971 adaptation starring Gene Wilder—the pop icon became obsessed with landing the role of the quirky chocolatier, Willy Wonka. In an attempt to impress the studio, he even recorded a soundtrack, hoping to surprise the executives. Though they appreciated the music, the idea of casting him as Wonka never gained traction. When the studio offered to buy the soundtrack and give him a minor role instead, Jackson was insulted and chose to withdraw completely. The role eventually went to Johnny Depp, who later insisted his portrayal was not inspired by Jackson.

2. SPIDER-MAN // SPIDER-MAN (2002)

For years, Jackson had been keen on acquiring Marvel Comics, especially after the company faced financial difficulties in the late 1990s and even filed for bankruptcy in 1996. In 1999, Jackson met with Marvel’s legendary writer Stan Lee to discuss buying the company—and to see what Lee thought about the idea of him playing Spider-Man in a feature film. According to Lee, Jackson believed owning Marvel was the only way he could secure the iconic role.

Ultimately, Jackson failed to raise the funds to purchase Marvel. In 2002, Sony moved forward with a Spider-Man film starring Tobey Maguire. Interestingly, Jackson also campaigned for the role of Professor Xavier in Fox’s 2000 adaptation of X-Men.

3. UNNAMED MIME // STREET DANDY

In 1984, Michael Jackson was considering a script written by Flashdance writer Tom Hedley, titled Street Dandy, a musical set in a New York café where aspiring performers gathered. The “street dandy,” as described by People magazine, was a mime and a ‘fashion sensation.’ By 1987, producer Lynda Obst revealed that the project had been shelved because the role was deemed “too fanciful” for Jackson. The only musical film Jackson ever starred in was 1978’s The Wiz.

4. PETER PAN // HOOK (1991)

Jackson, who had long been captivated by the idea of flying, was drawn to the character of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie’s eternal boy. Director Steven Spielberg revealed that Jackson was nearly cast as Pan in the 1991 film Hook, which told the story of a grown-up Pan returning to his childhood world. However, Jackson reportedly didn’t agree with Spielberg’s vision of a more mature Pan, which ultimately led to Robin Williams landing the role.

5. QUASIMODO // THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Jackson was deeply fascinated by the story of Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer from Victor Hugo’s novel, particularly his unrequited love for a street dancer. He reportedly watched the 1939 film adaptation countless times. Screenwriter Tom Hedley recalled late-night conversations with Jackson about possibly portraying the hunchback. However, the project never came to fruition, and Hugo’s tale was eventually adapted into Disney’s 1996 animated film.

6. JAR JAR BINKS // STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)

The Star Wars prequel, which was harshly criticized by many, faced particular backlash for its computer-generated character, Jar Jar Binks. In a 2015 interview with Vice, motion-capture actor Ahmed Best, who portrayed the character, recalled that Michael Jackson had expressed interest in the role. “George Lucas said, ‘Well, Michael wanted to do the part, but he wanted to do it in prosthetics and makeup, like Thriller,” Best shared. “George wanted to do it in CGI. My guess is that ultimately, Michael Jackson would have overshadowed the movie, and I don’t think [Lucas] wanted that.’”

7. MIDKNIGHT

In 1991, Jackson came close to a major starring role in a film titled MidKnight, which was in active development by Sony Pictures. According to the Los Angeles Times, the studio was heavily invested in this action-adventure project, which was rumored to involve a young boy who transforms into a dancing knight at midnight. Anton Furst, the Oscar-winning production designer of Full Metal Jacket and Batman, was reportedly the studio's top choice for director. In a 2009 interview with Vice, screenwriter Caroline Thompson revealed that one of the studio's main attractions to the project was the fact that Jackson would spend most of the film with his face obscured by a helmet while playing the knight.

This project was part of a contract Jackson had signed with Sony, which also included other projects like Jack and the Beanstalk. However, due to the negative publicity surrounding Jackson at the time, none of these films came to fruition. During one meeting about his film prospects, Jackson reportedly placed his head on the table and began crying uncontrollably, unable to hold back his emotions.

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