Michael Jackson Biopic Could Be Delayed As Controversy Hits Third Act
Michael, the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic, is facing a potential delay over the film’s controversial third act, which has legal implications.
Puck reports that a 1994 legal agreement between the family of a then 13-year-old boy named Jordan Chandler and Jackson’s estate has thrown a wrench into the film’s completion. The legal binding, stemming from the high-profile 1993 accusation that Jackson sexually abused Jordan, was established after the two parties settled the following year. One of the contract stipulations required MJ, and his estate by extension, to not dramatize the Chandlers in any capacity—including a potential biopic.
Well, the third act of the Thriller artist‘s biopic covers this issue at length, with director Antoine Fuqua depicting Jackson in the movie as a “naïve victim of the money-grubbing Chandlers” juxtaposed with a scene of Jordan’s father “threatening to leverage his son’s accusations to destroy his ex-wife and Jackson’s career.” Sources close to the Michael film claimed that this agreement wasn’t disclosed to the filmmakers until shooting had been completed on the $150 million movie.
Michael Jackson performs on stage during is “HIStory” world tour concert at Ericsson Stadium November 10, 1996 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Walter/Getty Images
According to the outlet, John Branca, the MJ estate executor, had revealed details surrounding the agreement in September 2024—after the Financial Times released a report claiming that the King of Pop’s estate allegedly paid “hush money to other accusers” in “never-before-reported settlements.”
A delay in the film’s release has been floated, but Lionsgate Studios is “hopeful” that its scheduled October 2025 release date can still happen even with re-shoots underway. MJ’s estate is reportedly funding the film’s re-shoots, with producer Graham King stating he is “confident that his team can fix the movie.”
The film, which is set to include over 30 songs and a plethora of performances to match its icon, was previously set to release in April. But the movie was pushed back to its now scheduled October release. No other information was given as to why the project had been delayed at the time of the news.
Michael stars Jaafar Jackson as MJ, with Colman Domingo, Laura Harrier, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Larenz Tate, Kendrick Sampson, Kat Graham, and more rounding out the cast.
