Did you know? Michael Jackson wanted to play a transforming exotic car named HOT ROD in feature film

One of the many cars of the Michael Jackson car collection: the Cadillac Escalade

In a 2004 interview with Playboy Magazine, filmmaker/actor Kevin Smith revealed the weirdest script he's ever been asked to direct was to star Michael Jackson, honest to gosh, as a man who morphs into a car that drives around with a young boy at the wheel inside. The proposed movie title? "Hot Rod"... seriously (and not meant disrespectfully). It's not an urban legend and the car business is not making this up. MJ apparently had a thing for cars, with his own car collection numbering more than 75. The desire Jackson expressed to play a car character where he was the driver and car of his own vehicle but relinquishes control to a young boy is riddled with symbolism. Read on to learn more about the Michael Jackson Car Movie project and why the idea never made it to film. FAN CLUB NOTE: New photos of Michael Jackson with Cars can be seen here through the slideshow located at the bottom of this article.

MICHAEL JACKSON FUNERAL CAR PHOTOS

MICHAEL JACKSON WANTED TO PLAY A TRANSFORMER TYPE CAR IN HIS OWN FEATURE FILM

The movie would have featured a Transformer-like main character, a quasi exotic car character Jacko thought he'd be interested in playing. Even MTV News, who ran a mass media review of the off-color but well respected magazine's report, seemed to agree with Smith that the idea of Jackson being involved was odd.

"Jackson was behind it [the movie and screenplay development], and he wanted it to be this story about a guy, played by himself, who hangs out with a little boy, and this little boy gets into the car and drives him around," Smith said of the proposed film called -- no lie, says Smith -- "Hot Rod." Now that's one car that it is still up in the air whether or not was ever seen hanging around Neverland Ranch.

"In retrospect, I'd love to make that movie," Smith told Playboy in the magazine's April issue. "But it wouldn't be anything like the version Jackson or the studio wanted to see." Smith is most notably remembered as a Cult Classic Film Director who plays the role of "Silent Bob" in many of his own productions. Known for having a flamboyant style of presentation in his cinematic adventures, films like "Chasing Amy", "Clerks", "Mall Rats", "Dogma", and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" have earned him a loyal Gen X audience [Editorial NOTE: Despite making "Jersey Girl" with Ben Affleck and J-Lo, we forgive you for...]

SEE MICHAEL JACKSONS BEAUTIFUL GOLD BURIAL CASKET

WHY WAS THE MICHAEL JACKSON CAR MOVIE IDEA SCRAPPED (BESIDES BEING WEIRD)

In 1993, just as Michael Jackson starting making headlines for being accused of child molestation (he settled that case out of court with a boy's family, reportedly for millions), the singer was trying to set up a movie production of "Peter Pan," to star himself as the boy who never grows up and to be directed by movie musical veteran Stanley Donen ("Singin' in the Rain," "Funny Face"), according to People Magazine.

"Once the scandal erupted, the project disappeared somewhere into Neverland, say those who were attached to the movie." Shortly there after, talk of making "Hot Rod" as the definitive Michael Jackson car movie, seems to have vanished from the production schedule as well faster than Peter Pan's shadow. Now, with the death of Michael Jackson, one can't help but look at his beautiful gold casket and think of something mildly reminiscent of the timeless and age old Egyptian Pharaohs -- or the futuristic Star Wars character C3PO.

Did the star self select the metal coffin housing to bring a vehicle element to his burial? Was the metal sarcophagus-looking casket designed to protect his immortal soul because he felt comfortable housed in something resembling a high tech and ultra-luxe exotic auto? Or was he merely following his past habits and setting a new celebrity trend the rich and famous among us will seek to emulate by pre-arranging that at time of death, they too will be entombed in such flamboyant and opulent gold?

Whatever the case, MJ never got to play the role of leading vehicle -- though most agree that if there is an afterlife party to attend, Jackson will certainly be arriving in the finest vehicle money could buy (and this time -- probably for the first time -- he's planning to drive solo).

RUMOR DENIED: THE 2007 MOVIE HOT ROD IS NOT A MICHAEL JACKSON CAR OR MOTORCYCLE FILM PRODUCTION

The movie "Hot Rod", a DVD action film already produced in 2007 has no affiliation with Jackson; further, though it does run on a theme of transportation, it does not follow the same futuristic exotic car theme Jackson's movie. The film is promoted as follows and tagged as a Romantic Comedy and Action Adventure film that deals with the folowing archtypal themes abusive-stepfather, american-flag, bike, bus-jump, child-abuse, danger, daredevil, fighting, heart-operation, hero, motorcycle, physical-abuse, raise-money, stepfather-stepson-relationship, stunt, stuntman:

Self-proclaimed stuntman Rod Kimble (Samberg) is preparing for the jump of his life. Rod plans to clear fifteen buses in an attempt to raise money for his abusive stepfather Frank’s life-saving heart operation. He’ll land the jump, get Frank better, and then fight him, hard.

Hot Rod was rated (PG-13 ), for crude humor, language, some comic drug-related and violent content and is for sale or download online from various movie clearing houses.

For more information on the death of Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson Car Reports, click the link(s) below:

Michael Jackson's Family and Friends in Funeral Procession

New Celebrity Ride Photos: Ultra-Luxe Exotics at MJ Funeral

MORE MICHAEL JACKSON AUTO NEWS TRIVIA

On February 27th, 2004, Jackson was stopped by police while vacationing with his children near Aspen, Colorado, where he went because his children wanted to see snow. Jackson had been shopping at a Wal-Mart earlier in the day wearing a ski-mask. Employees found this suspicious and called the police with a description of his vehicle. The incident led to nothing as he was pulled over, asked to reveal his identity, and then left to go on his way.

For more information about the life, death, and cars of Michael Jackson, visit the following links (from earliest news reports of the celebrity's death at the top of the list to the recent articles about his final funeral and burial at the bottom):