Spartan Echo

Section: Entertainment

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge greenlit a major Michael Jackson movie deal Monday, and the film is scheduled to be in theaters later this year. The accompanying Michael Jackson merchandise will have to wait - for now.

The film, crafted from hundreds of hours of behind-the-scenes and rehearsal footage shot in Los Angeles weeks before Jackson was to kick off his 50 "This is It" concerts in London, will also feature interviews with Jackson's friends and collaborators. Portions of the movie will be shown in 3-D.

"People who have seen this footage are astounded by the amazing quality of Michael Jackson's performance," said Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment. "This historic recording of the last time he sang and danced on stage shows the legendary artist in an incredibly powerful way, with crystal clear images and sound."

Fans will have to wait a bit longer before official Jackson merchandise hits store shelves or a museum exhibit of the singer's memorabilia is displayed.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff delayed approving a pair of lucrative contracts after attorneys for Jackson's mother, Katherine, raised a series of objections. Attorneys spent hours trying to work out a deal, but Beckloff ultimately delayed a ruling and appointed an independent attorney to represent Jackson's three children in estate matters.

It is unclear how much the deals are worth, but attorneys for the companies advocating them said the delay could cost Jackson's heirs a substantial amount of money. Katherine Jackson and her grandchildren are set to receive a combined 80 percent of the pop superstar's estate.

The estate will grow richer with a deal Beckloff approved between Jackson's estate, concert promoter AEG Live and Columbia Pictures, which is owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Under the terms of the proposed contract, the film, slated to arrive in theaters on Oct. 30, will have to be screened for Jackson's estate and cannot include any footage that puts the superstar in a bad light.

Burt Levitch, an attorney for Katherine Jackson, expressed concerns that the film will feature Jacksons' three children, but an attorney for AEG Live denied the youngsters were included in the footage.

Columbia Pictures paid $60 million for rights to the film, and the contract states Jackson's estate is slated to receive 90 percent of its profits.

Jackson died on June 25, days before he was set to embark to England for his comeback shows.

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