A month prior to the theatrical screening of "This Is It", Sony Pictures has made available the tickets to the special Michael Jackson documentary. Starting on Sunday, September 27, the tickets to the limited two-week engagement are offered for purchase at the documentary's web site, thisisit-movie.com. The movie documenting the King of Pop's final performance rehearsals days before his death will debut simultaneously in 15 cities around the globe on October 28, but a sneak peek will be presented at the new Regal Cinemas Stadium 14 the night before on October 27. The Associated Press, in the meantime, reported that the advance screenings have been sold out. 3,000 tickets to the Los Angeles shows have been snatched by fans within two hours early Sunday.
"'This Is It' may go down as the greatest concert no one got a chance to see," the movie's director and Michael's longtime collaborator, Kenny Ortega, promised. "But with this film we get a rare portrait of Michael as he prepares for his final curtain call." Jeff Blake, Sony's worldwide marketing and distribution chairman, added, "Michael Jackson has an army of fans everywhere round the world. By rolling out this film simultaneously worldwide, we are giving audiences an incredible opportunity to join together in celebration of Michael Jackson's incredible career."
"This Is It" offers a behind-the-scenes footage of Jackson preparing for a series of the O2 London shows he was rehearsing when he died June 25. It will compile more than 100 hours of video footage concert promoter AEG Live shot during April, May and June 2009. Reuters claimed that a source close to the project has mentioned the planned 3-D sequence for the movie will not make it into the final reel.