The Daily Dish: July 20

-- Sony close to MJ film deal Michael Jackson's This Is It concert rehearsal footage, about 80 hours' worth, is set to be acquired by Sony Pictures and developed into a feature film, according to Variety. The studio is looking at a $50 million price tag for worldwide rights from AEG Entertainment, which owns the rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson, and seems like an appropriate fit considering Sony Music Entertainment owns the rights to MJ's songbook. High School Musical helmer Kenny Ortega has been tapped as the director, since he's the one who shot the footage and clearly knows his way around a musical. Ortega's dance card is clear until he begins production on the Footloose remake next March and word has it that he's already started to put together some preliminary footage. The rehearsal video was originally intended as a behind-the-scenes look at MJ's London tour and was rumoured to have been shot in 3D, although it remains unclear if the film will be shown in that format.

-- Beastie Boy Adam Yauch has cancer One-third of the pioneering rap trio Beastie Boys has announced, via online video, that he has a cancerous tumour in his parotid (or salivary) gland, forcing the group to cancel tour dates and postpone the release of their forthcoming album. Adam Yauch (better known as MCA) details in the video that he visited the doctor two months ago after noticing a lump on the side of his neck, which turned out to be a "very treatable" tumour. Yauch, 43, appears in the video alongside fellow Beastie Adam Horovitz (AdRock) and explained that he'll have to go undergo surgery as well as localized radiation but, luckily, it won't affect his singing voice. Yauch seemed to be in high spirits, calling the cancer a "pain in the ass" and apologizing for disappointing fans. Something tells me they'll understand.

-- Mischa Barton's rep denies cocaine binge Following the former “O.C.” beauty being allegedly placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold late last week, reports have surfaced that Mischa Barton's meltdown was spurred by a three-day cocaine binge. The 23-year-old actress has recently been the subject of much tabloid ink thanks to her shrinking waistline and apparent hard-partying and the latest scandal began after she supposedly calls the police to her LA home last Wednesday. Her spokesperson, however, has been quick to refute the claims that Barton’s unspecified medical issue was actually a drug binge accompanied by a suicide scare, calling the rumours "preposterous" and only confirming that the actress was receiving medical care. Her new CW TV show “The Beautiful Life” has been pushed back from its scheduled Wednesday start while Barton receives treatment.