Second biopic of the King of Pop to reveal his humanity amid sexual abuse allegations
Michael Jackson’s music is streamed millions of times a day, but his family claims he was never truly heard.
The Jackson family is navigating the production of a biopic series depicting both Michael Jackson’s singing career and his ties to sexual abuse allegations.
The original opening of Michael was set at Neverland Ranch, where police raid the property while searching for Jackson after he was accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old Jordan Chandler.
However, it was later revealed during production that, due to a legal clause, any mention of Chandler in a fictionalised account of the period could not be depicted.
Reshoots took place, and the film went on to become the most commercially successful biopic of all time, warranting a highly anticipated sequel.
Yet criticism of the film has centred on director Antoine Fuqua’s decision not to mention the sexual abuse allegations against Jackson.
Fuqua wants the story to remain focused on Jackson as a human being, rather than sensationalising parts of his life.
Jackson’s death makes telling his story on film challenging, as he is no longer able to speak for himself.
The Jackson family has been involved in the production, advocating for Jackson’s perspective as they believe Michael depicts his story accurately.
If the story is always being told from someone else’s point of view, Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew and the actor portraying him, believes, “It’s someone else’s story. It’s someone else’s idea of what it is …”
Jaafar Jackson says the sequel will address the allegations from his uncle’s perspective while continuing to explore his humanity.
“He never changed that purity, that sense of always wanting to find the good in other people. And no matter all the stuff he went through, how he was treated, what things were said about him, he never stopped treating people with kindness. He never stopped believing in and wanting to look for the good in people … even though he was broken, his heart still stayed the same.”
