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LOS ANGELES - A film on the final weeks of Michael Jackson's life -- as he prepared for his comeback tour -- will open worldwide on October 28 and be in cinemas for two weeks, Sony Pictures announced Thursday.
The movie, titled "This Is It," was described as an "intimate portrait of Michael Jackson as you've never seen him before," Sony said in a press release.
In an unusual move, tickets for the movie will go on sale on September 27, more than a month before the movie is released. The release date was also moved up by two days.
"This Is It" will show "a rare, behind-the-scenes look" at Jackson as he rehearsed between April and June for a series of concerts that were to start July 13 in London's O2 Arena.
It is being "produced with the full support of The Estate of Michael Jackson," Sony said.
The movie title, taken from one of Jackson's hit songs, also shares the title of what was to be his 2009 tour.
The movie's director is Kenny Ortega, best known for directing Disney's successful "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."
"This film is Michael's gift to his fans," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius's world."
"With this film, we get a rare portrait of Michael as he prepares for his final curtain call and what I believe was going to be his master work," Ortega said.
Hollywood media reported Sony could have paid up to 60 million dollars for the rights to the recordings of Jackson's final rehearsals.
Jackson died in Los Angeles on June 25 at age 50 from an apparent cardiac arrest.
Authorities are investigating whether prescription drugs played a role in his death, and have focused on the conduct of his personal physician Conrad Murray, reportedly the target of a police manslaughter investigation.
- AFP/ir
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