The long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson will finally be released in theaters on April 24th. Why did it take so long and what to expect.
Jaafar Jackson wants to change opinions about Michael Jackson
Actor Jaafar Jackson, who plays the role of Michael Jackson in the upcoming biopic “Michael”, has revealed his expectations for the new movie.
Banshaw Biz
- Directed by Antoine Fuqua, “Michael” (released April 24) focuses on Michael Jackson’s rise to fame and early solo career in the ’80s.
- Jaafar Jackson, son of Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson, stars as the King of Pop. Colman Domingo and Nia Long play Joe and Katherine Jackson’s parents.
- The film’s release has been repeatedly delayed amid reports of legal issues and reshoots.
Team “Michael” has been moonwalking on eggshells in the weeks leading up to the film’s release.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day), the Michael Jackson biopic (out April 24) stars his nephew Jaafar Jackson as the late King of Pop, who died at age 50 from acute propofol and benzodiazepine poisoning in 2009. Colman Domingo and Nia Long play Michael’s parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller plays lawyer John Branca.
However, the film’s distributor has not yet shown the film to journalists, and the cast has only participated in very limited interviews. This comes as no surprise given all the controversy already swirling around the project, which has been envisioned for many years.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is the movie “Michael” about?
The film follows Michael’s meteoric rise to fame, from his young beginnings in the brother group The Jackson 5 to his early solo career in the 1970s and 1980s. According to Variety, the film will follow the actor’s recovery from a fireworks accident during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in 1984, and conclude with the Bad tour in the late ’80s.
What are the allegations against Michael Jackson?
In 1993, dentist Evan Chandler accused Jackson of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son, Jordan. The pop star denied any wrongdoing, but settled the lawsuit for $23 million in early 1994.
At the time, Jackson’s estranged sister La Toya told the media that the allegations were true and that she had witnessed the checks being used as hush money for the boys’ families. However, she ultimately recanted this statement in her 2011 autobiography, Starting Over.
In 2003, Jackson was arrested for sexually abusing 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, who was allegedly abused at the singer’s Neverland Ranch in California. The case went to trial in 2005, with prominent witnesses Macaulay Culkin, Jay Leno, Chris Tucker, and George Lopez participating in the trial. Jackson was ultimately acquitted on all charges, with jurors claiming there was insufficient evidence.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who met Jackson as children, also claimed years of abuse from Jackson in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. The pair are seeking $400 million in damages, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly last fall, and will appear before a lower court jury in November, People reports.
Why is the Michael Jackson biopic so controversial?
Unlike the long-running Broadway musical MJ, which ended just before Jackson was indicted in 1993, the new film will reportedly tackle Jackson’s alleged misconduct head-on.
However, according to Variety, the film required approximately $15 million in reshoots and a new ending. Lawyers for Jackson’s estate are said to have discovered a clause in the legal settlement with Chandler that prohibits any mention or depiction of Jackson in any film.
Variety reported that, according to a source close to the film, “Most of the third act was devoted to the scandal, but the final act was scrapped along with references to child molestation accusations.” It was also reported that the original script included a scene in which investigators search Jackson’s Neverland Ranch for evidence.
The film was originally scheduled for release in April 2025, but the release date was moved to October 2025 and then to spring 2026 following alleged behind-the-scenes unrest.
What do Michael Jackson’s accusers say about this movie?
Safechuck and Robson have not publicly condemned the upcoming biopic or the alleged axing of the scandal storyline. However, during filming in 2024, their lawyer John C. Carpenter slammed the project in an interview with The Daily Beast.
“We just want to get the truth out as quickly as possible… and the sooner the truth gets out, the less we have to worry about propaganda,” Carpenter said. “Or maybe the movie is a huge flop and no one will see it.”
What does Michael Jackson’s family think about this movie?
So far, the Jackson family’s reactions seem to be all over the place. TMZ reported in March that Janet Jackson was “very critical of the film” after a family screening in Los Angeles, while her brother Jermaine Jackson, Jaafar’s father, “applauded loudly.” The late singer’s daughter Paris Jackson also got into a public spat with Domingo last fall after she told People that Jackson’s children were “very supportive of the film” and that she had spoken to them “a little bit.”
According to Vanity Fair, Paris claimed on Instagram that she had no involvement in the film.
“I read the first draft of the script and made notes about what was dishonest (and) didn’t sit well with me,” Paris wrote on Instagram. “When they didn’t deal with it, I moved on with my life. It wasn’t a monkey or a circus. God bless and God fast.”
Paris added that she was hesitant to speak out because she knew “Michael” would please her father’s fans. “So much of the movie panders to a very specific part of the Dad fandom that still lives in a fantasy. And they’ll be happy.”
What is your evaluation of “Michael”?
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPA) rated “Michael” PG-13 for some thematic material, language, and smoking.
How long are Michael Jackson movies?
“Michael” is 2 hours and 7 minutes.
When is the release date of “Michael”?
“Michael” will be released nationwide on April 24th, with previews starting on April 22nd.
