LONDON -- Reports that Joseph Fiennes is set to play Michael Jackson in an upcoming comedy have been flying about social media recently, and Twitter really doesn't know what to make of it.
Fiennes will star as Jackson in a one-off drama about an unusual road trip the singer is rumoured to have taken with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Guardian reports.
The casting choice has prompted some fairly strong reactions on Twitter.
Some people didn't believe it.
I just told my mum that Joseph Fiennes is playing MJ. She said, "No he isn't!" And now she just keeps saying the word 'no' over and over.— Killer Bea (@PepperNStardust) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes is really going to play MJ?? uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh pic.twitter.com/kOIZmH16s8— Jess Camacho (@CamachoJess) January 27, 2016
When Joseph Fiennes' agent came to him and said "I want you to audition for the role of MJ" how did Joseph not hang up on him???— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) January 27, 2016
Many brought up the ongoing race debate in the entertainment industry.
Joseph Fiennes can play Michael Jackson. (A real person). But Idris can't play James Bond (a fake spy for a fake agency)? Cool, cool, cool.— Prentice Penny (@The_A_Prentice) January 27, 2016
Congratulations to noted African-American actor Joseph Fiennes on being cast as Michael Jackson...— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) January 27, 2016
Whose on board with boycotting the whitewashing of Michael Jackson in a show where Joseph Fiennes has been casted to play him?— shadeoncé (@tawnybananas) January 27, 2016
WTF? Joseph Fiennes is playing Michael Jackson? This is NOT the colorblind casting we meant, entertainment industry https://t.co/1EPpbC8jcO— Dorothy Snarker (@dorothysnarker) January 26, 2016
And while some people defended Fiennes...
Remember, this is not Joseph Fiennes' fault. I'd play Michael Jackson too if someone offered me the role. Crazy that execs signed off on him— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) January 27, 2016
...Most were just really, really confused by the whole thing.
The world's reaction to Joseph Fiennes playing Michael Jackson pic.twitter.com/EGLKYSETIO— AL (@MissSchliez) January 27, 2016
Mashable has reached out to Sky for confirmation on the casting decision.
UPDATED 27 JANUARY 15:40: Sky Arts responded to confirm that Fiennes will indeed be playing Jackson and that the programme will be a comedy.
"Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon is a Sky Arts comedy which takes a light hearted look at a reportedly true event; Joseph Fiennes is cast as Michael Jackson," a Sky Arts spokesperson wrote in a statement to Mashable.
"It is part of a series of comedies about unlikely stories from arts and cultural history. Sky Arts gives producers the creative freedom to cast roles as they wish, within the diversity framework which we have set."
UPDATED 27 JANUARY 17:50: Fiennes has spoken to ET about his role in the show.
"I'm a white, middle-class guy from London," he said. "I'm as shocked as you are."
"[Jackson] definitely had an issue -- a pigmentation issue -- and that's something I do believe," Fiennes continued. "He was probably closer to my colour than his original colour."