According to a recent report, the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic will address the allegations of child sexual abuse made against the singer. The film is produced with the approval of the Jackson estate, and it had been previously unclear which aspects of his life the film would explore.
Journalist Matthew Belloni, writing for Puck News, has obtained an early draft of the script and reports that the film “wants very much to convince you Michael is innocent.” Despite this, however, the script is said to go to “great lengths to minimise and downplay the actual claims and eviscerate the Chandlers.”
The Chandlers are central to allegations against Jackson. In 1993, Evan Chandler, a dentist and screenwriter from Los Angeles, accused Jackson of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son Jordan. While the case was settled out of court in 1994, allegations of sexual abuse continued to dog Jackson’s career, and in 2013, choreographer Wade Robson filed a lawsuit against Jackson’s estate, alleging that the singer had abused him between the ages of seven and 14.
The new biopic, entitled Michael, is set to receive a theatrical release on 18 April 2025 in the United States. While there is no confirmed UK release date, the film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, known for Training Day and The Equalizer, and written by John Logan, who has previously worked on Gladiator and Skyfall. The lead role will be played by Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael, with Colman Domingo playing the role of his father Joe Jackson. Miles Teller will also feature in the film as John Branca, Michael’s manager and a key figure in launching his solo career
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