Michael Jackson led a short but eventful life, to say the least, from his time as a child leading the Jackson 5, to becoming a global superstar and one of the most famous people in the world. So one biopic may not be enough to tell his story.
Reports say Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua of Training Day fame, may be delayed and split into two parts. The movie stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar in the lead role.
Colman Domingo and Nia Long play Joe and Katherine Jackson in the project, which was scheduled to come out on Oct. 3. Other cast members include Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy, Miles Teller as Jackson’s longtime lawyer John Branca, Laura Harrier as Motown executive Suzanne DePasse, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.
But at CinemaCon 2025 earlier this month, which previews the slate of movies heading to theaters this fall, Michael was conspicuously absent. Though it has completed principal photography, Deadline was first to report that the biopic may be delayed because of reshoots. These are believed to be the result of a dispute between filmmakers and the Jackson estate over the inclusion of Jackson accuser Jordan Chandler.
In 1994, Jackson paid Chandler, then a teenager, and his family $20M to settle child sexual abuse allegations, though the case never made it to criminal or civil court. But a criminal investigation was launched that included a search of Jackson’s house and the superstar being forced to show his genitals to confirm or deny markings on his private parts that Chandler said were there.
Many of Jackson’s fans believe Jordan was coerced into making the allegations by his father, a dentist named Evan Chandler. Evan died by suicide in 2009, weeks after Jackson’s death, at the age of 65. Jordan’s whereabouts are unknown. The now 45-year-old has never participated in any criminal investigations of Jackson.
In 2005, Jackson was acquitted of sexual molestation charges after accusations from another teenager, Gavin Arivzo, whose family befriended him. He died in 2009 while rehearsing for a 50-date residency at London’s O2 Arena.
As part of the 1993 settlement, Jackson agreed to never discuss the Chandlers or the accusations publicly. It appears that the agreement remains in place even after Jackson’s death. It has been reported that the reshoots are to either remove Chandler from the film entirely, changing what is said to be the central narrative, or at the very least, downplaying any references to him.
The Jackson Estate has not publicly confirmed or denied that any reshoots are taking place and the reasons why. However, they are financing the film and the reshoots which necessitates a reworking of the biopic’s third act. Lionsgate, the studio behind Michael has remained mum as well.
Nia Long talked about making the biopic on the red carpet at the American Black Film Festival last year.
“It was a huge responsibility to represent a woman who is iconic, who has carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, who is still with us, gracefully and I hope I delivered, because one never knows,” Long said. “I just put in the work and tried to do my best. It was the opportunity of a lifetime.”
