Pop
Michael Jackson biopic Michael forced into '$15m reshoot' after bosses blocked from showing abuse claims
The new Michael Jackson biopic reportedly had to redo huge chunks of filming after producers learned they weren’t allowed to depict key abuse allegations.
The eagerly-awaited Michael Jackson biopic has been hit with a massive last‑minute shake‑up — with insiders claiming the production had to spend around $15million (£11million) re‑shooting scenes once it became clear they couldn’t legally show parts of the star’s most controversial history.
The Antoine Fuqua-helmed Michael, which lands in UK cinemas on April 22, follows the King of Pop’s rise to global fame, with his nephew Jaafar Jackson stepping into the lead role.
But according to Variety, the film’s original ending has been scrapped entirely.
Producers had reportedly planned to explore the sexual abuse allegations that shadowed Jackson’s later life.
In 1993, Los Angeles dentist Evan Chandler accused the singer of abusing his 13‑year‑old son Jordan — claims Jackson denied before the case was settled out of court in 1994.
Years after Jackson’s death, choreographer Wade Robson and former child actor James Safechuck also came forward with allegations.
Jackson’s estate has always rejected every accusation.
But the outlet reports that, late in filming, the production discovered a clause in the Chandler settlement preventing Jordan from being portrayed on screen — meaning the entire final act had to be abandoned.
A 22‑day reshoot was ordered to rebuild the ending, costing a reported $15million (£11million), with Jackson’s estate said to have covered the bill.
The film will now close with Jackson at the height of his fame during the Bad era, with the main dramatic tension focusing on his turbulent relationship with his father Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo), who managed The Jackson Five.
The late singer's daughter, Paris Jackson, has tried to separate herself from the flick.
She took to social media last year to claim she had no involvement in the production of the biopic.
She posted on her Instagram Story: "(Colman Domingo), don't be telling people I was 'helpful' on the set of a movie I had 0 per cent involvement in lol that is so weird."
Paris added in a second post: "I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest / didn't sit right with me, and when they didn't address it, I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys, not my circus. God bless and God speed."
She and Domingo have since cleared up their misunderstanding and are on "better terms".
