**The Michael Jackson Movie **- the swansong crafted from his This Is It concert rehearsal footage - has been picked up by Sony Pictures.
The feature, which will be taken from the 80 hours of footage shot, is expected to be helmed by High School Musical director Kenny Ortega who took the initiative to chronicle the star's preparations for his 50-date London stint and is currently free following the end of the HSM****3 term, before kicking off his Sunday shoes to film Footloose early next year.
Sony are apparently looking at a $50 million bill for the worldwide rights to the rushes, paid to concert organisers AEG Entertainment who are hurriedly attempting to claw back their losses after the King Of Pop's untimely death last month. Sony pipped other interested studios to the post due to their ties with Sony Music Entertainment who own Jackson's music publishing rights. Also on the market from industrious AEG, is the footage from the MJ tribute concert which will feature sister Janet and Justin Timberlake, taking place on August 29.
The footage, originally meant for a behind the scenes movie of the gigs - and which will now be a way to cater for the grieving fans of the star - was tipped to be re-mastered in 3D. The film will also be interwoven with versions of Jackson's videos which were shot especially for airing at the concerts, including an update on the classic Thriller. Sources expect the film to hit the public domain before the end of the year.
Now, all that is to be decided is a name for the film. Perhaps, owing to the title of the concerts This Is It, they could go with **Was That It? **All ideas (in the best possible taste) welcome below.