Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and Michael Jackson get into a car together.  Now, I’m sure you’re thinking this is the beginning of some joke, but what’s the punchline?  How big was the car?  Was it an 18-wheeler?  It’s actually not a joke – it’s a film being made by the BBC.  The premise is that these three BIG stars were trapped in New York City after September 11th.  And since all flights were grounded, they decide to escape the island by driving cross country.  The story is allegedly based in fact – at least, according to an article in Vanity Fair back in May of 2011.  What we do know is that Michael Jackson did perform at Madison Square Garden on September 10th.  And it’s said that both Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando went to that concert.  While people close to Liz say she stayed in NYC until flights resumed, Jackson’s former assistant claims that Michael rented a car, picked up Taylor and Brando, and they set off on a road trip.  They allegedly took turns driving, but both Taylor and Jackson were annoyed that Marlon kept wanting to pull over at every KFC and Burger King.  Look, I couldn’t make this up – although I cannot deny that it’s possible someone else did.

Here’s where it gets freaky – in case the rest of it seemed too normal for you.  In the BBC film, Michael Jackson will be played by Joseph Fiennes.  Yes, Ralph‘s younger brother.  Yes, the star of Shakespeare in Love.  Yes, the WHITE actor!  It only makes sense – if you want someone who looks like the Michael Jackson of 2001, are you gonna cast Idris Elba?  You know who else was surprised by the casting?  Joseph Fiennes!  “I’m a white, middle-class guy from London.  I’m as shocked as you may be.  He definitely had an issue – a pigmentation issue – and that’s something I do believe.  He was probably closer to my color than his original color.”  Wait till Jada Pinkett Smith hears about this!  The movie will also feature Stockard Channing, who is naturally playing Elizabeth Taylor – although the way casting is going, she could be playing Brando!  As it turns out, Brian Cox will play Marlon.