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Lionsgate's "Michael," the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic with a budget exceeding $150 million, abruptly shifted its release date last November from April 18 to October 3 of this year. No official reason was provided at the time, but new information now suggests the true cause behind the delay has come to light.
According to a recent report from Puck News, the delay for "Michael" stems from the necessity to completely reshoot the film's entire third act. The core issue lies in this section of the movie, which was originally intended to depict the lawsuit where Jordan Chandler accused Jackson of sexual abuse when Chandler was 13 years old. The initial script aimed to directly address these allegations and vigorously assert Jackson's innocence. However, it was reportedly discovered post-filming that the Jackson Estate had overlooked a prior agreement with the Chandler family, which stipulated that no Chandler family members could be dramatically portrayed in future films. This realization, coming after principal photography, created a significant problem for the production.
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Matt Belloni, editor of Puck News, previously revealed in April of last year that he had read the script. He noted that the screenplay delved deeply into this period, including a critical recording of Jordan's father allegedly threatening to destroy Jackson's career with his son's accusations, discussions among lawyers about potentially compensating the Chandler family, and the humiliating strip search that left a lasting scar on Jackson.
Due to the agreement with the Chandler family, all these related plot points must now be scrapped. Director Antoine Fuqua, known for "The Equalizer" series, and screenwriter John Logan, who penned "Gladiator," have reportedly been engaged in rewriting the script for several weeks. A new draft is expected to be submitted as early as this week, with reshoots tentatively scheduled for March.
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Neither Lionsgate nor the Jackson Estate has commented on the matter. However, following the news, People magazine quickly received clarification from an anonymous source involved in the production, who stated that the film's situation is not as chaotic as reported and that production has not halted. The source did confirm that there are plans for reshoots in March but did not elaborate on the specific reasons for them.
"Michael" is produced by Graham King, the Academy Award-winning producer behind "Bohemian Rhapsody." Jaafar Jackson, Michael's real-life nephew, stars as Michael. The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Michael's father, Joe Jackson; Nia Long as Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson; and Miles Teller as John Branca, co-executor of Michael Jackson's estate. Universal Pictures is handling international distribution for the film.