The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic reportedly needs to undergo reshoots after a previously undiscovered legal agreement involving one of his accusers was recently found.
On Thursday, January 23, Puck reported that the film initially included the lawsuit filed against the late pop icon—who passed away in 2009 at the age of 50—by Evan Chandler.
Chandler’s 13-year-old son, Jordan, accused Jackson of sexual abuse in 1993. (Jackson’s estate has consistently denied any allegations of abuse against him.)
Jackson and the Chandler family settled the lawsuit outside of court for an estimated $23 million. A key part of the settlement agreement included a clause preventing the Chandlers from being mentioned or depicted in any media or films.
According to the report, the biopic’s script originally featured Jackson’s legal struggle with the Chandlers as one of the key plot points.
However, once it was discovered that the Chandlers could not be referenced or dramatized in the film, certain scenes are now required to be reshot due to this legal constraint.
It was reported on Friday, January 24, that the biopic, titled Michael, is scheduled for reshoots in March, although additional details about the changes to the film were not disclosed.
The film has been in development since 2019 when producer Graham King acquired the rights to tell Jackson’s story. In 2023, Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, was cast to portray his famous uncle.
The movie also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Joe and Katherine Jackson, Michael’s parents. Other notable cast members include Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, and Kat Graham, among others.
In March 2024, King discussed his approach to the biopic, stating that he aimed to take an “unbiased” perspective on Jackson’s life.
“Michael’s life was complicated,” King said in a statement. “As a filmmaker, I look to humanize but not sanitize and present the most compelling, unbiased story I can capture in a single feature film and let the audience decide how they feel after watching it.
Michael clearly remains an impactful, culturally relevant artist with a life and legacy worth exploring.”
The biopic will follow Jackson’s journey from his early years with the Jackson 5 to his tragic death. He passed away from cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home, which was later determined to be caused by an overdose of propofol administered by his physician, Conrad Murray.
In 2011, Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.
Filming for Michael wrapped up in May 2024. The movie was originally scheduled for release in April of this year, but the premiere date has since been delayed to October.