VIDEO : Joseph Fiennes Wonders Why He Was Cast As Michael Jackson

Joseph Fiennes admits he was "shocked" to be cast as Michael Jackson in the upcoming comedy short Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon for British pay TV network Sky. Speaking to AFP , Fiennes said that he was "shocked that they would come to me for the casting," adding that people should "ask the producers as to why they would want to cast me.? The casting of a white Englishman to play Jackson stirred up great controversy on social media, particularly as the news came at a time when Hollywood is gripped by its own ongoing debate about diversity, or lack thereof. Fiennes said of the twenty-minute comedy sketch, ?I felt this was a wonderful challenge. I read the script and it?s very funny."