It turns out that a year before Michael Jackson’s tragic passing in 2009, he signed a contract that allows Netherland Presentations to feature music from his albums Thriller and Off the Wall for a musical play.

According to TMZ, the production hit a major road bump last year when John Landis, director of the music video “Thriller,” claimed that they needed his permission to use the song for the musical.

A lawsuit is now pending. Howard Weitzman, legal guru for the MJ estate, told TMZ, “I’ve seen their creditor’s claim. I don’t agree with their request.”

Would you watch a Michael Jackson-inspired musical?