The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and penned by John Logan, is facing significant complications that threaten its release. The film, which stars Jaafar Jackson (Michael’s nephew) in the lead role, is set for release on October 3 by Lionsgate, with a cast that includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller. However, recent reports reveal that the third act of the biopic has become legally problematic, especially regarding how it addresses the 1993 allegations of child sexual abuse against Michael Jackson.
The controversy stems from the film’s focus on the allegations made by Evan Chandler, whose son Jordan accused Jackson of abuse, leading to a criminal investigation and a subsequent lawsuit. Though Jackson’s estate denies the allegations, and Jackson was acquitted in a separate trial in 2005, Michael appears to frame the singer as an innocent victim, painting the Chandlers as money-driven antagonists. The third act of the movie explores Jackson’s legal struggles, including heated debates between his lawyers, such as Johnnie Cochran, over whether to settle with the Chandlers. It even includes a disturbing moment where Jordan’s father threatens to ruin Jackson’s life and career by leveraging the abuse allegations.
The legal issue arises from a prior agreement between Jackson’s estate and the Chandlers, which prohibits any dramatization of the allegations or the family’s experience. This agreement, which was overlooked during the script’s approval, means that critical scenes already shot—including those depicting the strip search of Michael Jackson—can no longer be included in the film. Sources report that the Chandlers’ portrayal was meant to be central to the biopic’s narrative, with key scenes that cannot be legally used now.
