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Taika Waititi Co-Directing Michael Jackson Movie From the Perspective of His Chimp, Bubbles

Michael Jackson and Bubbles. Photo: Sankei Archive/2010 Sankei Archive

Taika Waititi might’ve wrapped filming on the Thor-Hulk buddy movie Thor: Ragnarok, but he isn’t leaving unlikely pairings behind. Waititi is set to co-direct Bubbles, a stop-motion-animation movie about the life of Michael Jackson as seen through the perspective of his pet chimp, Bubbles. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Waititi is sharing directing credit with Mark Gustafson, who will give the film a visual style similar to that of Anomalisa, while Isaac Adamson penned the 2015 Black List script. Bubbles won’t be Waititi’s first foray into translating his love of Michael Jackson to the big screen, after his 2010 film Boy depicted an obsession with the King of Pop. Oh, and if the chimp-perspective bit didn’t give it away, Waititi also clarifies that while Bubbles depicts events in Michael Jackson’s life, it is not a Michael Jackson biopic. “This film is not about Michael Jackson because that’s not a story for me to tell — or a story I’d be comfortable telling — it’s about a chimpanzee’s fascinating journey through the complex jungle of human life,” he said. Sounds like a tricky feat; here’s hoping Waititi doesn’t blow Bubbles.

Taika Waititi to Co-Direct Michael Jackson Chimp Film