Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’ is already creating controversy. According to Puck Magazine’s Matthew Belloni, it aims to portray the musician as a victim.
At the heart of the controversy is ‘Michael’s narrative stance. According to reports, including insights from Puck Magazine’s Matt Belloni, the screenplay aggressively asserts Jackson’s innocence against the child abuse allegations that haunted him:
“It’s basically the first major piece of estate-approved entertainment that directly engages with the allegations against Jackson. And it not only engages, it wants very much to convince you Michael is innocent.”
Belloni also noted the film does not aim for a balanced portrayal but rather seeks to paint Jackson as a victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by ‘greedy parents,’ minimizing and downplaying the controversies that surrounded him.
‘Michael’ Might Cause a Sensation
According to Belloni, if the biopic remains untouched until its release, it will be highly controversial:
“Maybe to avoid criticism, the movie would flick at the abuse claims, I thought, or the ‘noise’ around Jackson as he became weirder and weirder. … If the script as written ends up onscreen — which is a big caveat here because words and scenes are often changed during shoots, and not everything goes in the final cut — this will be super controversial.”
The biopic’s decision to focus on clearing Jackson’s reputation has raised eyebrows. The singer, who passed away in 2009, faced multiple allegations of sexual assault during his lifetime, which he consistently denied. Jackson was never convicted of any crime, yet the accusations left their mark on his legacy.
Everything We Know About ‘Michael’
‘Michael‘ aims to tell the life story of the King of Pop, portrayed by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in what marks his debut in a leading role. With a reported production budget of $155 million, Universal/Lionsgate has high hopes for its success, eyeing a box office gross nearing $1 billion.
While films like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Elvis’ celebrated musical legacies and personal battles, ‘Michael’ is set to challenge public assumptions and present evidence supporting Jackson’s innocence. The biopic has a star-studded cast, including Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as one of Jackson’s attorneys, John Branca.
Produced by Graham King and scripted by John Logan of ‘The Aviator’ fame, ‘Michael’ has been in development since 2019. Filming officially commenced on January 22, 2024, and the movie is on track for its premiere on April 18, 2025, coinciding with Easter weekend.
