Michael, the long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic, has reportedly undergone major changes during reshoots — changes so significant that half the film might never be seen.
According to Puck’s Matthew Belloni, director Antoine Fuqua and writer John Logan were forced to rework the movie after a legal dispute surrounding Jackson’s early ’90s sexual abuse allegations. An existing agreement between the Jackson estate and one of Jackson’s accusers reportedly prohibits filmmakers from depicting the accuser or dramatizing their story.
The reworked ending wasn’t a creative decision — it was a legal one.
That restriction reportedly rendered a major portion of the film — including Jackson’s King of Pop years and scenes set at Neverland Ranch — unusable. “Additional photography has now wrapped, and the film ends after Jackson’s triumphant rise to fame in the ’80s,” Belloni wrote. “So all the footage of MJ’s later King of Pop (and scandal-plagued) years, including two weeks of shooting at Neverland Ranch, now owned by Ron Burkle, is unusable.”
The original cut of Michael reportedly ran close to four hours long. Lionsgate had once considered splitting it into two parts, but given the current situation, that plan may no longer be on the table.
READ: Meet the Full Cast of the Michael Jackson Biopic, ‘Micheal’
Producer Graham King, however, isn’t letting the idea of a second film go. “The plan is to make a second Michael movie that would include all that stuff, plus a significant amount of additional, yet-to-be-shot footage with stars Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, and Miles Teller,” Belloni added. “But that will now depend on how the film is received by audiences next April. If it’s a hit, they greenlight part two. If not, producers eat all that unused footage.”
Given the reshoots and financial gamble, a second film isn’t guaranteed.
The first part of Michael will focus entirely on Jackson’s rise to fame in the 1980s, ending before the more controversial chapters of his life.
While Lionsgate hasn’t publicly commented on the reported changes, several outlets including Rolling Stone and The Guardian have echoed details of Puck’s report.
Jaafar Jackson, the late icon’s real-life nephew and the son of Jermaine Jackson, stars as Michael Jackson. The ensemble also includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, and Derek Luke.
Michael is directed by Antoine Fuqua from a script by John Logan. Lionsgate will distribute the film in the U.S., while Universal handles the international rollout.
The first trailer for Michael will reportedly debut in November, attached to screenings of Wicked: For Good, ahead of the film’s April 24, 2026 release date.
So yes, Michael is finally finished — but it’s only half the movie Fuqua originally set out to make. Whether the rest ever sees the light of day depends entirely on how audiences respond.
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