Michael Jackson’s estate spent $15 million on biopic reshoots to remove child abuse allegations from ending, report claims
Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, reportedly spent $15 million on reshoots to remove the depiction of the child abuse allegations against Jackson that were originally included in the film’s ending.
The film, which is set to hit UK cinemas on April 22nd, depicts the early stages of Jackson’s career, from his time in the band Jackson 5 to his first foray into his solo career. Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s nephew, stars as the titular character.
In a report shared by Variety, the film will end with the ‘Thriller’ singer at his peak, during the success of the 1987 album, Bad, instead of focusing on the sexual assault allegations he faced throughout his later life.
It’s claimed that the movie originally looked into allegations made in 1993 by Evan Chandler, a Los Angeles dentist and screenwriter who accused the star of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son; Jackson denied the allegations, and the parties reached a financial settlement in 1994.
Though Jackson’s estate continually denies all allegations, others have filed a lawsuit, such as dancer Wade Robson in 2014, who claimed Jackson sexually assaulted him between the ages of seven and 14.
However, the production discovered late into the original shooting that the clause in the settlement with the family of Chandler prevented them from portraying the child on film or mentioning him at all.
As a result, the film was forced to organise a 22-day reshoot, costing £11 million, which, allegedly, Jackson’s estate covered.
This also explains the movie’s delay, as it was pushed from an October 2025 release date to an undisclosed date in 2027, though it will now enjoy a cinematic release later this month.
A new press release steers clear of the abuse allegations, instead writing of the project, “The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.”
The ensemble cast includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, and Miles Teller, while Jackson’s son, Prince, is an executive producer and reportedly was on set every day.
Watch the official trailer for the movie below.
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