The first part of the billion-dollar blockbuster biopic ended in 1987, before the late King of Pop was first accused of abuse.
While the billion-dollar Michael biopic avoided delving into the allegations of child sexual abuse against late self-proclaimed King of Pop Michael Jackson by ending his story in 1987 — several years before the chart superstar was hit with his first allegation — the singer’s nephew and Michael star Jaafar Jackson says the upcoming sequel will take the matter on.
Related Barbra Streisand Sends Rosie O'Donnell Sweet Message Amid 'Kimmel' Guest-Hosting Gig: 'Welcome Home!' English Premier League 2026-27: Here's Where to Watch Soccer Matches Live Online for Free Bad Bunny's Closing Out Debí Tirar Más Fotos Tour With Sold-Out Puerto Rico Shows: How to Get Last-Minute Tickets Explore Jaafar Jackson Michael Jackson See latest videos, charts and news.
In an interview with GQ Middle East, Jaafar said the second part will take on that difficult chapter in his uncle’s life, telling it from MJ’s perspective. “I think the second film will give even more insight from his point of view, because at the end of the day, [the allegations] are always from someone else’s,” he told the magazine.
Jackson was then arrested in 2003 and indicted on several counts of child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent and other charges involving 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo.
That case went to trial and Jackson was acquitted on all charges in 2005. A 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland, included allegations from choreographer Wade Robson and James Safechuck that Jackson sexually abused them as children; Jackson and his representatives have steadfastly denied any allegations of impropriety involving children and Jackson was never found guilty of any charges.
The Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael tells the story of the singer’s rise from modest means in Indiana as part of his family band the Jackson 5 and his eventual emergence as the biggest pop star on the planet, ending in 1987 with the release of his Bad album.
Fuqua previously told The New Yorker that the first movie opened with the infamous 1993 police raid on Jackson’s Neverland Ranch home following molestation allegations of abuse by Chandler.
Scenes tied to the abuse allegations were reportedly filmed during the first shoot, but a last-minute legal dispute forced producers to cut those scenes when the Jackson estate realized a clause in one of the settlements with accuser Chandler blocked them from addressing those claims in the film.
Fogelson said that it was possible some of the material shot for the first film could resurface in the second chapter. “We have a number of sequences, particularly some big musical sequences, that were shot previously, that are almost sure to be incorporated,” Fogelson said.
Fuqua described the difficult decision not to address the allegations in the first film, saying the reshoots were “tough,” but that the film’s production team were on the same page about how to tell the singer’s story.
The director also noted that quite a bit of footage shot for the first film could be used in the sequel, noting that the shoot “went pretty far” into Jackson’s later years; Jackson died in June 2009 at age 50 after cardiac arrest caused by acute poisoning with the powerful surgical anesthetic propofol.
Jaafar Jackson, who described the last time he saw his uncle, just two months before MJ’s death in the interview, told the magazine that access to the singer’s journals gave him a rare window into Michael’s inner world that helped inform his portrayal.
As a kid, you see things a little differently and there’s a lot of curiosity. And that’s something Michael never lost, and I feel like he only gained more as he got older.”.
Jaafar also said he was excited to tell more of Jackson’s story from “the point of view of himself,” predicting that Michael 2 — the film’s official title has not been revealed yet — will hopefully help him achieve that goal.
Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *.
Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about.
Fontes
Informação baseada em material público de Billboard, reescrito pela redação ULTRA NOTÍCIAS.
