Stranger Than Fiction

The Michael Jackson, Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor Story Gets Even Crazier Thanks to Casting

It’s an irresistible Hollywood story . . . but will tricky race issues take all the fun out of it?
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By Dave Hogan/Getty Images.

The story is irresistible: on 9/11, unable to fly, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, and Marlon Brando jumped in a car together—the three of them, no entourage—and made it as far as Ohio in an attempt to escape New York City. The story was first revealed in a 2011 Vanity Fair story by Sam Kashner— with the caveat that Taylor’s representative insists she remained in New York City, which makes it possible the whole thing never happened. The story has now made the next inevitable step in evolution: it’s becoming a movie.

A British TV movie, to be specific, which means it may not be all that easy to watch in America. Given one of the casting choices, that may be for the best; Joseph Fiennes, the brother of Ralph best known for his role in Shakespeare in Love, has been cast to play Jackson. It’s inspired the expected round of “WTF?” headlines, and especially amid an uproar about the Oscars and recognition for black actors, isn’t necessarily the best look for an industry still trying to prove that it offers opportunity for actors of color. Then again . . . Michael Jackson’s appearance had changed pretty dramatically by 2001. It doesn’t eliminate the question of race, but it does make the role a mighty challenge to cast no matter who you choose.

As Kashner himself points out, via e-mail, “I think the casting is inspired, actually. Sometimes life isn't just stranger than fiction, it's fiction’s muse!” And the author of the original story about Liz, Michael, and Marlon’s escape isn’t surprised at all to see it taking on new life. “There's something just so irresistible about simply the image of this holy trinity in the car together. It's a kind of comic misrule flight out of Egypt story, and a tale told out of the celebrity Bible that should go on forever.”

Fiennes, speaking to WENN, agrees that the film is a “challenge,” and describes the story as “a fun, light-hearted tongue in cheek road trip of what celebrity of that kind is like. But also it’s rather beautiful and poignant about their relationships as well.” With Stockard Channing set to play Taylor and Brian Cox as Brando, the film will provide an opportunity to see three fascinating characters step into three even more fascinating, larger-than-life personalities. But will the tricky race issue make it harder to enjoy this celebrity story on screen than in print?