Taika Waititi has signed on to co-direct Bubbles, a Blacklist script detailing the life of the late Michael Jackson from the perspective of his beloved pet monkey. Given the centrality of Michael Jackson to Waititi's 2010 award-winning film Boy (the young lead character was obsessed with Michael Jackson), it seems like a strong match.
Isaac Adamson penned the script, an untraditional & fantastical biopic, which was one of the top titles on the 2015 Black List. The film is expected to resemble Charlie Kaufman's 2015 film Anomalisa, utilizing stop-animation technology, specifically their form of replacement animation, which combined 3D printing and puppetry. Anomalisa was the first animated film to win the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. It was also nominated for best animated picture at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
CAA will handle U.S. rights, and Rocket Science will handle international rights. In response to the hiring of Waititi,Thorsten Schumacher, the head of newly-formed Rocket Science, said that the addition of Waititi's "warmth, empathy and humor" to the project has allowed "all the pieces fit perfectly" together. Waititi just finished filming Thor: Ragnarok in New Zealand with Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, and Cate Blanchett.
Waititi said of the film's focus: "It's an idea that fascinates me and one I want to develop further. Most people know I'm a huge Michael Jackson fan, so the main thing for me is to make sure it's respectful of him and his legacy. I'm not interested in making a biopic; I want to focus on telling a story that blends fact and fantasy, about an animal trying to make sense of the world. 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. I think animation is the only way to approach a story like this."
While Waititi brings a certain vision to Bubbles, Gustafson's previous work as animation director on Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox suggests he will provide a technical expertise. Up next, Gustafson will be producing Guillermo del Toro's stop-motion animation Pinocchio. In regards to the unique angle of Bubbles, Gustafson said, "Bubbles, the chimp, had a front row seat and a truly unique perspective on the pop culture phenomenon of Michael Jackson. I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with this great team to bring his story to life. Plus it's a monkey. Who doesn't love a monkey?"
Bubbles will be produced by Andrew and Walter Kortschak of End Cue, and Dan Harmon's Starburns Industries. Isaac Adamson and Lee Stobby will serve as executive producers.
