By Adam Shapiro

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 10/27/09 – When Michael Jackson announced this past March that he would be launching a farewell tour, fan pandemonium ensued. The major comeback concerts, entitled “This Is It,” broke ticket sales records as the initial 10 date concert series quickly increased to 50 dates. With anticipation building for the July shows, the unthinkable happened just days before the commencement. Michael Jackson’s final curtain call tragically took place far too early.

Today, with family, friends and fans still reeling from the untimely death of the King of Pop, all parties can rejoice in the fact that although the concerts never took place, video footage of preparations for those performances has evolved into a documentary that will show a very lively Michael Jackson in his element. “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” opens worldwide Tuesday, with a limited run in theaters beginning Wednesday. The simultaneous showings around the globe will be anchored by a star-studded premiere at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. The venue famously held Jackson’s high-profile public memorial service, as well as many of his rehearsal sessions for this comeback tour. The premiere is expected to have many A-list entertainers in attendance, including Snoop Dogg, Smokey Robinson and Kenny Ortega, a longtime Jackson collaborator responsible for directing and producing “This Is It.”

Ortega received high praise for his work of culling 100 hours of rehearsal footage down from Jackson’s lifelong friend and confidant, Elizabeth Taylor, who viewed the movie for the first time last week. “From A to Z you get Michael’s input on every level,” she said. “Michael’s genius at work with the dancers. Mr. Ortega catches Michael in his every mood. You see in front of your eyes Michael’s genius blossoming on this piece of film thanks to Kenny Ortega and his crews. I truly believe this film should be nominated in every category conceivable.”

The film, which has been generating huge buzz for months, is getting an extra dose from the legendary actress. Taylor nearly wore out her Twitter account Monday describing the impact the documentary had on her. “It is the single most brilliant piece of filmmaking I have ever seen,” she wrote in the first of more than a dozen posts on the topic. “It cements forever Michael’s genius in every aspect of creativity. To say the man is a genius is an understatement. He cradles each note, coaxes the music to depths beyond reality. I wept from pure joy at his God-given gift. There will never, ever be the likes of him again,” Taylor masterfully recounted.

With only a 16-day run in theaters and sentiment from Taylor echoing through the minds of fans, the next two days are sure to signal the start of the late Michael Jackson’s most memorable performance.