New TV show where white actor Joseph Fiennes plays Michael Jackson faces 'whitewashing' backlash - but director insists the star 'unlocks the spirit' of his character 

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As Michael Jackson fans express their dismay over actor Joseph Fiennes playing the King of Pop in an upcoming TV special, the show's director has defended choosing the white actor to play the role of the black star.

The casting of 46-year-old Fiennes in the upcoming Urban Myths special on Britain's Sky Arts was first criticized when it was announced last year, but there was a resurgence of backlash on Tuesday after a preview for the show with scenes featuring Michael Jackson was released.

Fiennes as Jackson was shown riding in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Stockard Channing, 72, portraying the late Elizabeth Taylor. Brian Cox, 70, was shown in the backseat as late actor Marlon Brando.

Social media users went wild over the clip, suggesting it was 'whitewashing' and stressing that Michael Jackson once told Oprah Winfrey that the idea of a white actor playing him on screen would be 'horrifying'.

But Ben Palmer, who directs four episodes of the upcoming satirical comedy series Urban Myths, has said that the decision to cast British actor Fiennes was based on performance rather than physical appearance.

 Joseph Fiennes portrayed Michael Jackson in a trailer released on Tuesday for the upcoming series Urban Myths on Sky Arts

Fiennes as Jackson is shown riding in a care with Stockard Channing (right), 72, portraying the late Elizabeth Taylor. Brian Cox, 70, as late actor Marlon Brando 

It was first announced in December 2015 that Fiennes would play Jackson in the upcoming series. Fiennes defended the casting last year, too, saying he 'went with the mind that this was a positive light-hearted comedy'

'We were casting Michael Jackson in 2001 and that obviously is a challenge in terms of the physical resemblance,' he told The Guardian. 'We were really looking for the performance that could unlock the spirit, and we really think Joe Fiennes has done that. He's given a really sweet, nuanced, characterful performance.'

He added that people should not jump to conclusions before watching the episode, which is part of a series that portrays supposed life events of celebrities including Bob Dylan, Adolf Hitler and Muhammad Ali.

The episode featuring Jackson tells the tale of a rumored road trip that the king of pop supposedly took with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando in 2001 to flee New York City after the September 11 attacks.

'It's a really lovely, sweet film. I'm really looking forward to seeing how people react once they've actually seen it,' Palmer said of the episode.

Fiennes, too, defended playing the role last year when it was first announced.

'I deal in imagination, so I don't think imagination should have rules stamped on them,' Fiennes said. 'If it promotes stereotyping, then it's wrong. I made a distinction that the Jackson project doesn't do that.'

The actor admitted to being initially surprised by the color-blind casting. 'It was a shock. I thought someone had got it wrong.' 

Social media users called Fienne's portrayal 'whitewashing' and said Jackson once told Oprah he'd be 'horrified' if a white actor ever played him on screen. But Urban Myths director Ben Palmer said Fiennes' casting was a decision based on performance, not appearance

The episode featuring Jackson tells the tale of a rumored road trip that the king of pop supposedly took with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando in 2001 to flee New York City after the September 11 attacks 

Brian Cox as Marlon Brando was in the backseat while driving with Taylor and Jackson in the preview

But the Shakespeare in Love actor said he loves a challenge, providing it's in good taste.

'This is territory that is sensitive,' he said last year. 'One must determine if this portrayal is one that is going to be positive entertainment, and one that will not bring about division and put anyone's noses out of joint, so I went with the mind that this was a positive light-hearted comedy.'

This is not a movie; it's a small television 20-minute sketch,' he added. 'It's a very sweet comedy that looks at Michael, Marlon and Taylor.'

The actor admitted that if it were anything more, 'I wouldn't be the guy for the job.'

Fiennes recounted an incident of discrimination he witnessed many years ago in England when a black actress was picked to play an iconic white woman.

'Twenty years ago I worked for the National Theatre as a dresser. I saw a brilliant actress do Marilyn Monroe,' he said.

'Two critics refused to see it because she was black. I was working it from behind the stage and I couldn't understand it because she was Marilyn for me. It was a lack of imagination on their part.' 

In 1993, Jackson told Oprah Winfrey that he did not want a white child to portray him in a Pepsi commercial.

'That's so stupid. That's the most ridiculous, horrifying story I've ever heard,' Jackson told Winfrey. 'It's crazy. I mean... why? Number one, it's my face as a child in the commercial - me when I was little.

'Why would I want a white child to play me? I'm a black American. I'm proud to be a black American. I'm proud of my race. I'm proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride in who I am, and dignity. That's like you wanting an oriental person to play you as a child. Does that make sense?'

Social media users again brought up the clip on Tuesday after a trailer for Urban Myths was released.

'Michael wouldn't want a white actor to play him, joseph fiennes needs to back the f*** up,' one Twitter user said, as another asked if the casting was a joke.

'I swear I try to stay away from certain things. But some things are just unavoidable. I just saw Joseph Fiennes. I want to cry. I just do,' one distraught Twitter user said.

Another user said that this could lead to further unsual castings. 

'Joseph Fiennes playing Michael Jackson in a parody Biopic, next they'll have Tomi Lahren playing Beyoncé in a Destiny's Child untold story,' he said.

One Twitter user said she was 'legitimately irritated' by Fienne's portrayal of Jackson, while another said: 'Can we just take that pic of joseph fiennes and have that be the end of any discussion of whitewashing?'

'What was Joseph Fiennes even thinking...or...the casting director,' another social media user asked.

'Shame on you, Joseph Fiennes. You're perfectly capable of saying, 'I do not have the right to perform this role.' Every actor is,' one Twitter user said.

Sky Arts last year said the comedy was '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'.

And Palmer said he enjoyed bringing to life unknown stories of celebrities.

'They are really lovely things to do,' he told the Guardian. 'For a storyteller they are brilliant, these really fascinating scenarios filled with interesting characters. We've taken lots of poetic licence.

'It's very much taking those iconic celebrities and putting them into the mundane and the everyday, which makes for great comedy.' 

The plot is based on the urban legend that Taylor, Jackson and Brando, all grounded in the Big Apple after the 9/11 attacks, decided to set off back home to California on their own

The rumor began when it was revealed Jackson invited Taylor and Brando (pictured above) to the city to attend one of his concerts at Madison Square Garden the night before, where they sat in the audience

The upcoming Sky Arts production titled Elizabeth, Michael And Marlon will also star Stockard Channing as Taylor and Brian Cox as Brando.

The plot is based on the urban legend that the three superstars, all grounded in the Big Apple after the 9/11 attacks, decided to set off back home to California on their own.

The rumor began when it was revealed Jackson invited Taylor and Brando to the city to attend one of his concerts at Madison Square Garden the night before, where they sat in the audience.

A former Jackson employee later told Vanity Fair the three went to New Jersey before getting behind the wheel and driving as far out together as Ohio, slowed down only by Brando's frequent need for Burger King and KFC.

The story was later shot down by a close friend of Taylor's, who claimed she stayed in New York to pray in church and comfort people who couldn't get behind or stayed behind to look for the missing.

But with no reports of Taylor being sighted at Ground Zero in the days after the terrorist attack, the legend prevails.

In the trailer for the upcoming series, Fiennes as Jackson was shown riding in the front passenger seat of a vehicle driven by Stockard Channing, 72, portraying the late Elizabeth Taylor.

Fiennes found fame in the critically acclaimed 1998 film, Shakespeare In Love, in which he starred alongside Gwyneth Paltrow

The upcoming Sky Arts production titled Elizabeth, Michael And Marlon will also star Stockard Channing (left) as Taylor and Brian Cox (right) as Brando

Brian Cox, 70, was shown in the backseat as late actor Marlon Brando.

'We're getting ready for the finale,' Brando said from the back seat after a police officer stopped their vehicle.

Jackson then leaned forward from the passenger seat.

'Michael?' the officer said in wonder before Jackson is seen running in the woods in front of the car.

The Sky Art trailer also showed snippets from other Urban Myths stories.

Eddie Marsan was shown as singer Bob Dylan knocking on a door and asking for Dave.

Ben Chaplin as Cary Grant and Aidan Gillen as Dr. Leary also were seen laughing on a couch.

Another clip showed Iwan Rheon as Adolf Hitler and Harry Potter franchise star Rupert Grint as Hitler's Friend.