Michael Jackson film details revealed

A film based on the 80 hours of rehearsal footage for Michael Jackson's London O2 Arena residency, which had been due to kick off earlier this month until the singer passed away, is set to be released by Sony Pictures.

The company is expected to pay over £30 million to promoters AEG Entertainment, who own the rights to the footage, reports Variety.

Kenny Ortega, who directed the hit film 'High School Musical', is expected to helm the project.

As well as rehearsal footage the film will reportedly feature at least three videos which had been set to broadcast during the late singer's shows in the UK capital, and will be released before the end of the year.

One of the videos will be an alternative version of Jackson's iconic music video for 'Thriller'. The videos were meant to be presented in 3D, but it has not been revealed whether the film will present them in the format.

Meanwhile, a new 'stripped-down' compilation album featuring 11 new mixes of Jackson's hits taken from original Motown session tapes, both solo and with The Jackson 5, has been released today (July 20).

The tracklisting of 'Michael Jackson: The Motown 50 Mixes' is:

'I'll Be There'
'Ben'
'Who's Loving You'
'Ain't No Sunshine'
'I Want You Back'
'ABC'
'We've Got A Good Thing Going'
'With A Child's Heart'
'Darling Dear'
'Got To Be There'
'Never Can Say Goodbye'