In January last year, Sky Arts announced Joseph Fiennes would play Michael Jackson in an upcoming series, numerous critics taking issue with the casting decision.

Despite the backlash, Sky and Fiennes continued on together, the first footage of which has finally reached the internet.

Titled Urban Myths: A Brand New Collection of Comedies, the Ben Palmer-directed series tells various “true-ish stories” from the last century, including Elizabeth Taylor (Stockard Channing), Marlon Brando (Brian Cox), and Michael Jackson’s fabled journey from back to the West Coast following 9/11.

The other stories being told remain slightly more ambiguous, one centring on Hitler (Game of Thrones’ Iwan Rheon) and “Hitler’s friend” (Harry Potter star Rupert Grint) as they work on some early artwork.

Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Show all 8 1 /8 Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend With the investigation of Michael Jackson's death zeroing in on what drugs the pop singer took and who provided them, an upcoming toxicology report is key to whether anyone is criminally charged. Robert Galbraith / Reuters Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Michael Jackson performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena, California, 1993 ap Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Michael Jackson gestures during a news conference at the O2 Arena in London in March Stefan Wermuth / Reuters Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Michael Jackson fans, media and onlookers gather outside UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles reuters Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Michael Jackson arrives for a hearing at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria, California in 2005. Reuters Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend A woman cries outside the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles after learning of the death of Michael Jackson ap Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Michael Jackson, at the height of his powers, performs during his Dangerous Tour in Bangkok, 1993 ap Michael Jackson: The final decline of a pop legend Michael Jackson on his Victory Tour in 1984 ap

Another features Bob Dylan (Eddie Marsan) looking for “Dave”, and another Cary Grant (Ben Chaplin) and Dr. Timothy Leary (Aidan Gillen) apparently taking LSD.

Following his casting, Fiennes defended the decision, saying Jackson’s skin colour “probably [became] closer to my colour than his original colour,” adding: “I’m a white, middle-class guy from London… I’m as shocked as you may be.”