Spike Lee’s documentary Bad 25, has been picked up by ABC for a Thanksgiving broadcast date. The film features the late-great Michael Jackson, and the making of his classic album, Bad.
Bad 25 is a collaboration between the long-time director in cooperation with Jackson’s estate and Legacy/Epic Records. The film includes never-before-seen footage of Jackson as he toured to support the “Bad” album, along with his studio sessions recording.
“We have footage in this documentary that no one’s ever seen, stuff that Michael shot himself, behind-the-scenes stuff,” Lee said. “We had complete access to the vaults of Michael Jackson. … He wrote 60 demos for the ‘Bad’ record. Only 11 made it. So we got to hear a lot of that stuff, too, so it was just a great experience.”
According to ABC, this is “the first ever in-depth, behind-the-scenes film project to chronicle a Michael Jackson album and tour.” Lee’s doc will also include sit-down interviews with people such as Martin Scorsese, Joe Pytka, Quincy Jones, Mariah Carey, Kanye West and many others.
On September 18th, which is the album’s 25th anniversary, there will be commemorated deluxe rereleases of the album. Bad 25 will premier at the Venice Film Festival on August 31.
Lee is no stranger to working with Jackson. In the past, he directed two music videos for the Pop Star including his 1996 hit “They Don’t Care About Us.”
