Michael, the upcoming film chronicling Michael Jackson’s rise to fame, underwent significant reshoots after production wrapped. Producer Graham King recently told The Wall Street Journal that large portions of the film had to be discarded for legal reasons. The discovery came as a shock—Michael had already completed filming and King was on vacation when he received the news.
“It was pretty crazy and surreal,” King said. “I’ve never experienced that, where you finish a film and then find out you didn’t have the legal rights to tell that story.”
An image from Michael – YouTube, Universal Pictures
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Telling the story of a figure as iconic—and polarizing—as Jackson was always going to present challenges. In his later years, he faced abuse allegations that remain a defining and controversial part of his legacy. Many observers questioned how Michael would approach that chapter.
Early reactions have criticized the film for omitting those controversies entirely. However, according to King, excluding them was not part of the original plan.
Legal Complications and Creative Changes
In 1993, a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 13-year-old boy accused Jackson of serious sexual misconduct. Jackson denied the allegations, and the case was later settled. At the time—and in the years since—the case, along with similar accusations, has remained a frequent point of debate and an unavoidable part of the pop star’s legacy.
Michael was originally intended to put that chapter of Jackson’s story to film with care before the reshoots. However, during post-production, the Jackson estate discovered a critical oversight. As part of the settlement with the boy’s family, Jackson had agreed that the story could not be used for commercial purposes.
An image from Michael – YouTube, Universal Pictures
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The entire third act of the film required extensive reshoots. Michael already carried a reported $150 million budget, driven largely by costly music rights. Additionally, some of the cut scenes were likely costly, including recreations of the 1990s Dangerous tour and the 2000s Invincible tour. Because of the settlement, the estate reportedly spent tens of millions more on additional filming. The delays also pushed the film’s release back by a full year.
Early Reception and Box Office Outlook
Early reviews for Michael have been largely negative, with critics arguing the film feels overly cautious. However, The Wall Street Journal reports it is tracking for a strong $60 million domestic opening weekend. Overseas forecasts suggest the film could reach $500 million globally. Audience interest remains high, and Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle has drawn praise.
As a result of the reshoots, Michael’s runtime has reportedly been cut from over three hours to around two.
What Comes Next?
In the years since the issue surfaced, the Jackson estate appears to have revised its agreement with the boy’s family. If Michael succeeds, footage removed during the reshoots could be used in a follow-up film. King and Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate’s motion picture group, said a rough outline is already in place. Lionsgate, the studio behind Michael, is prepared to move forward once it sees how the film performs. “I would expect that we will make a decision within a couple of weeks of the film opening,” Fogelson said.
An image from Michael – YouTube, Universal Pictures
Ultimately, Michael reflects the complicated balance between storytelling, legal limits, and the preservation of a global icon’s image. Whether audiences embrace the film as presented—or question what was left out—may determine how the next chapter of this story is told.
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