The late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson continues to command excitement and controversy eight years after his tragic death.
‘King of Pop’ Remains in News
Fans of Michael Jackson know his affinity for horror and Halloween.
From solo songs like “Thriller” and “Ghosts” to classics with The Jacksons like “This Place Hotel,” chills and thrills have played a prominent role in many classics from the “King of Pop.”
Now thanks to the Michael Jackson Estate and CBS, his horror classics will now become a part of an animated horror show, which will probably become an instant classic after its Halloween release.
The new project is entitled “Michael Jackson’s Halloween.”
According to New York Daily News, “The special, airing sometime this fall, will be an hour long and follow millennial characters Vincent (Lucas Till) and Victoria (Kiersey Clemons), who stumble upon a mysterious hotel on 777 Jackson Street called This Place Hotel. The young characters will also be joined by Ichabod the dog, and they’ll embark on a magical quest—featuring a bit of dancing.”
The animation will be helmed by Hammerhead.
Mark A.Z. Dippe will direct “Michael Jackson’s Halloween,” while Optimum Productions will create the show.
In other Jackson news, an unreleased album featuring nine unheard songs from the Gary, Ind. native will go to the highest bidder in an upcoming auction of celebrity items hosted by auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll.
The bidding will start at $50,000, but the unreleased CD is expected to go for about $1 million.
The auction is only for the actual unreleased physical CD, not the rights to the music. The winner will not be able to distribute the record to the masses as a result.
Three of the songs (“Monster,” “Breaking News,” and “Keep Your Head Up”) appeared on Jackson’s 2009 controversial posthumous release, “Michael.”
The other songs on the album include: “Stay,” “Everything’s Just Fine,” Black Widow,” “Burn Tonight,” “All I Need,” “Water,” “Let Me Fall in Love,” “Ready to Win” and “Soldier Boy.”
Unfortunately for the Michael Jackson Estate, all of the recent news has not been good news.
Former Jackson producer Quincy Jones is suing the estate for $30 million in unpaid royalties.
According to Rolling Stone, “Jones sued the Jackson estate in 2013, claiming he was owed $10 million from a series of projects that were released after the singer’s death, including the 25th anniversary reissue of ‘Bad,’ a Cirque du Soleil production and the ‘This is It’ concert film and live album.
“Nearly four years later, the trial over the lawsuit has reached Los Angeles Superior Court, with Jones now seeking upwards of $30 million, Variety reports.”
However, the estate has stated that Jones has been adequately paid for his contributions, although testimony shows that the estate offered the iconic producer $2-3 million to settle the suit.
“We believe the evidence will show that Mr. Jones is not entitled to anything but a fraction of the money he’s after. Mr. Jones has been paid over $18 million and he will make millions more,” said the estate’s attorney Zia Modabber.
The trial is expected to last three weeks and Jones is expected to testify at the hearing.
