The Michael Jackson estate is about to get another chunk of change now that there is a bidding war over packaging a film around the legendary song/music video Thriller.  Oh boy.

Kenny Ortega is attached to direct the film, while The Hangover writer Jeremy Garelick pens the script.  On the one hand Kenny directed This Is It (and worked closely with Michael on directing the tour itself before it sadly couldn’t happen) …on the other hand he directed High School Musical.  EW.  The plot is being kept secret, but Mandate/Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment are involved in what will end up as a pricey rights deal that will cap the film’s budget at $50 million.

Rumor has it that the movie will center on Vincent Price and the town he grew up in.  The Jackson estate has to sign off on the deal, but that has been in the works for some time and is expected to be done shortly.  Um.  I need more information.  Thriller …without Michael Jackson (in his prime) …yeah, interesting theatrical idea …no Michael.  High School Musical director.  I need more information.  But thus far I am thinking, let’s just enjoy what he has already contributed and leave well enough alone.  Stop capitalizing off the guy.  I know, I know …that’s silly talk.  How on earth will the people that sponged off him in life keep living off him if they don’t keep it up now that he has “regained popularity?”

We’ll be seeing much more of Michael’s work soon!  Cirque du Soleil is in talks to do two live shows based on his music (TWO?! oh brother), while Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock have a feature about Michael’s younger years in the works.  I am willing to bet a Cirque du Soleil project will be pretty cool, but why two?