Not everyone is thrilled that there’s a biopic being made about pop sensation Michael Jackson. The director of “Leaving Neverland,” the HBO documentary that delves into accusations of Jackson’s alleged child abuse, last month accused director Antoine Fuqua’s film of being “a complete whitewash” and that it aims to “completely rewrite the allegations and dismiss them out of hand.”
However at CinemaCon on Wednesday, “Michael” producer Graham King took the stage to say that the new biopic, currently in production, “will get into all of it.”
King promised “Michael” includes 30 songs and recreations of Jackson’s performances throughout his career but also depictions of “his life outside the public eye, things many people have never seen before.”
“Everyone has an opinion on him,” King said about Mj, acknowledging the blinding accusations that surrounded his career, saying that ultimately the film is a portrait of a “complex” man,...
However at CinemaCon on Wednesday, “Michael” producer Graham King took the stage to say that the new biopic, currently in production, “will get into all of it.”
King promised “Michael” includes 30 songs and recreations of Jackson’s performances throughout his career but also depictions of “his life outside the public eye, things many people have never seen before.”
“Everyone has an opinion on him,” King said about Mj, acknowledging the blinding accusations that surrounded his career, saying that ultimately the film is a portrait of a “complex” man,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Michael Jackson Biopic Budget vs Production Cost Of Top 3 Highest Grossing Biopics Of All Time! (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Michael Jackson was working on a concert film days ahead of his death. It was later released as a documentary and became the highest-grossing concert film of all time. Antoine Fuqua is now releasing a biopic on the king of Pop, which is likely to address the child abuse allegations against him. Its budget has been released, and below is a detailed comparison with the most successful biopics at the box office.
Titled Michael, the biopic will reportedly try to convince you that the late star was innocent. As per Puck News, it will address the abuse allegations made by Jordan Chandler in 1993. It is also to be noted that the film is scheduled to release in 2025, the same year when the civil trial by Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck is scheduled against the late artist.
Michael Jackson was working on a concert film days ahead of his death. It was later released as a documentary and became the highest-grossing concert film of all time. Antoine Fuqua is now releasing a biopic on the king of Pop, which is likely to address the child abuse allegations against him. Its budget has been released, and below is a detailed comparison with the most successful biopics at the box office.
Titled Michael, the biopic will reportedly try to convince you that the late star was innocent. As per Puck News, it will address the abuse allegations made by Jordan Chandler in 1993. It is also to be noted that the film is scheduled to release in 2025, the same year when the civil trial by Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck is scheduled against the late artist.
- 3/9/2024
- by Jishika Madaan
- KoiMoi
The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael has the approval of his estate and will even star his own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, but according to a new report, it’ll also mark the very first time any estate-affiliated project will address Jackson’s allegations of sexual misconduct — albeit in such a way to cast doubt on his accusers.
According to Puck News’ Matthew Belloni, who obtained an early script of the biopic, the film is quite flattering of Jackson and “wants very much to convince you Michael is innocent.” To that end, it addresses the controversies very directly, even beginning with a depiction of Jackson being raided by police in the aftermath of Jordan Chandler’s allegations in 1993.
As Belloni describes it, the script for Michael — which may be far from the finished product, he noted — goes to “great lengths to minimize and downplay the actual claims and eviscerate the Chandlers.
According to Puck News’ Matthew Belloni, who obtained an early script of the biopic, the film is quite flattering of Jackson and “wants very much to convince you Michael is innocent.” To that end, it addresses the controversies very directly, even beginning with a depiction of Jackson being raided by police in the aftermath of Jordan Chandler’s allegations in 1993.
As Belloni describes it, the script for Michael — which may be far from the finished product, he noted — goes to “great lengths to minimize and downplay the actual claims and eviscerate the Chandlers.
- 3/8/2024
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
A biopic highlighting the life and career of Michael Jackson is on the way. While many anticipate its release, the director of the controversial documentary series Leaving Neverland is not a fan. In a lengthy opinion piece, he outlines why the biopic is in poor taste.
Michael Jackson | Francis Sylvain/Afp via Getty Images Michael Jackson’s biopic will star the late icon’s nephew
Famed Training Day director Antoine Fuqua has been tapped as the director for the Lionsgate biopic. Deadline reports that Jackson’s nephew, 26-year-old nephew Jaafar Jackson, will star as the Moonwalk king in the film. Fuqua confirmed such in a post to his official Instagram account. Music runs in the family dynasty’s bloodline as Jaafar is a fellow artist who is the son of Jermaine Jackson.
Source: YouTube
The script was penned by John Logan and is being produced by Graham King. Along with...
Michael Jackson | Francis Sylvain/Afp via Getty Images Michael Jackson’s biopic will star the late icon’s nephew
Famed Training Day director Antoine Fuqua has been tapped as the director for the Lionsgate biopic. Deadline reports that Jackson’s nephew, 26-year-old nephew Jaafar Jackson, will star as the Moonwalk king in the film. Fuqua confirmed such in a post to his official Instagram account. Music runs in the family dynasty’s bloodline as Jaafar is a fellow artist who is the son of Jermaine Jackson.
Source: YouTube
The script was penned by John Logan and is being produced by Graham King. Along with...
- 2/9/2023
- by Brenda Alexander
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
“Leaving Neverland” director Dan Reed condemned the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, saying in a Sunday op-ed in The Guardian that it will “glorify a man who raped children,” pointing to the lack of outrage regarding its creation.
“In an era when full-throated outrage accompanies anything that smells of delegitimization or insensitivity against a vulnerable group, it amounts to a deafening silence,” Reed wrote. “No one is talking about ‘canceling’ this movie, which will glorify a man who raped children.”
The biopic, which is slated to begin filming under “Bohemian Rhapsody” producer Graham King,” comes four years after “Leaving Neverland,” which illuminated the heartbreaking and disturbing stories of Wade Robson, who Jackson sexually abused when Robson was 7 years old, and James Safechuck, whose nonconsensual relationship with the King of Pop began when Safechuck was 10, premiered at Sundance in 2019.
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“In an era when full-throated outrage accompanies anything that smells of delegitimization or insensitivity against a vulnerable group, it amounts to a deafening silence,” Reed wrote. “No one is talking about ‘canceling’ this movie, which will glorify a man who raped children.”
The biopic, which is slated to begin filming under “Bohemian Rhapsody” producer Graham King,” comes four years after “Leaving Neverland,” which illuminated the heartbreaking and disturbing stories of Wade Robson, who Jackson sexually abused when Robson was 7 years old, and James Safechuck, whose nonconsensual relationship with the King of Pop began when Safechuck was 10, premiered at Sundance in 2019.
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‘Rust’ Director Joel Souza Will Testify for Prosecution in Alec Baldwin...
- 2/5/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
The director of Leaving Neverland, the documentary that chronicled two accusers’ sexual abuse claims against Michael Jackson, is criticizing a planned biopic about the late singer.
In a guest column for The Guardian published Sunday, Dan Reed criticized the decision to a biopic about the music icon, questioning why “no one is talking about ‘canceling’ this movie, which will glorify a man who raped children.”
“It seems that the press, his fans and the vast older demographic who grew up loving Jackson are willing to set aside his unhealthy relationship with children and just go along with the music,” Reed wrote.
He went on to directly address the filmmaking team, which includes director Antoine Fuqua, writer John Logan, as well as producers Graham King, John Branca and John McClain, the latter of whom are co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate. Reed challenged whether the film would be able to represent alleged moments of abuse.
In a guest column for The Guardian published Sunday, Dan Reed criticized the decision to a biopic about the music icon, questioning why “no one is talking about ‘canceling’ this movie, which will glorify a man who raped children.”
“It seems that the press, his fans and the vast older demographic who grew up loving Jackson are willing to set aside his unhealthy relationship with children and just go along with the music,” Reed wrote.
He went on to directly address the filmmaking team, which includes director Antoine Fuqua, writer John Logan, as well as producers Graham King, John Branca and John McClain, the latter of whom are co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate. Reed challenged whether the film would be able to represent alleged moments of abuse.
- 2/5/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The director of the documentary Leaving Neverland has argued that the upcoming biopic of Michael Jackson will “glorify” a child rapist.
The 2019 documentary is a “brutally frank and explicit account of two abusive relationships,” British director Dan Reed wrote in a comment piece for The Guardian, published on Sunday.
The documentary reveals that the pop star first raped a boy, Wade Robson, when he was just seven years old, and abused another, James Safechuck, starting when the child was only 10.
Mr Reed wrote that the film was “an opportunity to bring to the widest possible audience an insight into how children fall victim to any sexual abuser, the psychology of the predator and, above all, the grooming process”.
He described his hope that the film could prevent other children from being abused, adding that destroying Mr Jackson’s reputation was not the “primary goal,” but that it “seemed like a...
The 2019 documentary is a “brutally frank and explicit account of two abusive relationships,” British director Dan Reed wrote in a comment piece for The Guardian, published on Sunday.
The documentary reveals that the pop star first raped a boy, Wade Robson, when he was just seven years old, and abused another, James Safechuck, starting when the child was only 10.
Mr Reed wrote that the film was “an opportunity to bring to the widest possible audience an insight into how children fall victim to any sexual abuser, the psychology of the predator and, above all, the grooming process”.
He described his hope that the film could prevent other children from being abused, adding that destroying Mr Jackson’s reputation was not the “primary goal,” but that it “seemed like a...
- 2/5/2023
- by Gustaf Kilander
- The Independent - Film
The director of Leaving Neverland, the 2019 documentary that accused Michael Jackson of child sexual abuse, has penned an op-ed slamming plans to make an authorized biopic about the King of Pop.
Writing in the Guardian, filmmaker Dan Reed said that the movie “will glorify a man who raped children.”
“What the total absence of outrage accompanying the announcement of this movie tells us is that Jackson’s seduction is still a living force, operating from beyond the grave,” Reed wrote. “It seems that the press, his fans and the vast...
Writing in the Guardian, filmmaker Dan Reed said that the movie “will glorify a man who raped children.”
“What the total absence of outrage accompanying the announcement of this movie tells us is that Jackson’s seduction is still a living force, operating from beyond the grave,” Reed wrote. “It seems that the press, his fans and the vast...
- 2/5/2023
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The proposed new Michael Jackson biopic will glorify a man who abused children, according to the director of Leaving Neverland.
Filming is due to begin on the story of Jackson’s life, produced by Graham King, with the cooperation of John Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of Jackson’s estate. The film will be directed by Emancipation‘s Antoine Fuqua from a script by Gladiator‘s John Logan, and the King of Pop’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will play him in the film for Lionsgate.
Leaving Neverland‘s director Dan Reed released his searing documentary in 2019, in which he interviewed at length two men – Wade Robson and James Safechuck – both of whom had been invited as children to stay with Jackson at his California ranch, and to accompany him on tour.
In the four-hour documentary, Robson...
Filming is due to begin on the story of Jackson’s life, produced by Graham King, with the cooperation of John Branca and John McClain, the co-executors of Jackson’s estate. The film will be directed by Emancipation‘s Antoine Fuqua from a script by Gladiator‘s John Logan, and the King of Pop’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will play him in the film for Lionsgate.
Leaving Neverland‘s director Dan Reed released his searing documentary in 2019, in which he interviewed at length two men – Wade Robson and James Safechuck – both of whom had been invited as children to stay with Jackson at his California ranch, and to accompany him on tour.
In the four-hour documentary, Robson...
- 2/5/2023
- by Caroline Frost
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Jackson’s son Prince has maintained that his father is the “greatest” music star of all time.
On Friday (28 October), Prince appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss his father’s legacy 40 years on from the release of Thriller.
He told hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins: “I was born into it – I was born in ’97 in the middle of the History tour – so anytime we were travelling aorund, there was always people surrounding him and, for me, that just kind of felt normal.
“When I started to realise that this was something more was when I started weatching videos of men fainting over my day. Even now, I’m understanding the full weight of his legacy – as I grow up, as I learn more about his history. His impact is so much deeper than I can fully comprehend.”
Prince said that he finds it “gratifying” and has...
On Friday (28 October), Prince appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss his father’s legacy 40 years on from the release of Thriller.
He told hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins: “I was born into it – I was born in ’97 in the middle of the History tour – so anytime we were travelling aorund, there was always people surrounding him and, for me, that just kind of felt normal.
“When I started to realise that this was something more was when I started weatching videos of men fainting over my day. Even now, I’m understanding the full weight of his legacy – as I grow up, as I learn more about his history. His impact is so much deeper than I can fully comprehend.”
Prince said that he finds it “gratifying” and has...
- 10/28/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Music
In 1996, Michael Jackson paraded the globe with the HIStory World Tour, playing 82 shows for over 4.5 million fans. That same year, the King of Pop apparently had his sights set on an entirely different gig: playing Morpheus in a television adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman.”
“By 1996, I was being taken to Warners, where the then-president of Warner Bros. sat me down and told me that Michael Jackson had phoned him the day before and asked him if he could star as Morpheus in ‘The Sandman,'” Gaiman said on Josh Horowitz’s “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. “So, there was a lot of interest in this, and they knew that it was one of the Crown Jewels, and what did I think? And I was like, ‘Ooh.'”
Over the last few decades, Gaiman received several offers to adapt his sprawling comic book series for the screen. “The Sandman” finally...
“By 1996, I was being taken to Warners, where the then-president of Warner Bros. sat me down and told me that Michael Jackson had phoned him the day before and asked him if he could star as Morpheus in ‘The Sandman,'” Gaiman said on Josh Horowitz’s “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. “So, there was a lot of interest in this, and they knew that it was one of the Crown Jewels, and what did I think? And I was like, ‘Ooh.'”
Over the last few decades, Gaiman received several offers to adapt his sprawling comic book series for the screen. “The Sandman” finally...
- 8/30/2022
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Dave Chappelle doesn’t waste any time wading into controversy in his latest Netflix comedy special: the comedian doubts the Michael Jackson accusers, talks Kevin Hart’s Oscars controversy, discusses Louis C.K. and R. Kelly’s sexual misconduct allegations and makes fun of trans people in “Sticks and Stones,” which dropped Monday.
“I don’t believe these motherf—ers,” says Chappelle of Jimmy Safechuck and Wade Robson, the two men who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse. Of the documentary “Leaving Neverland” that details their allegations: “Don’t watch it. It’s f–ing gross.” Although Chappelle says he doesn’t believe the accusers, he imagines a scenario where Jackson is guilty. “I mean, it’s Michael Jackson. I know more than half the people in this room have been molested in their lives, but it wasn’t no goddamn Michael Jackson, was it? This kid got his d–k...
“I don’t believe these motherf—ers,” says Chappelle of Jimmy Safechuck and Wade Robson, the two men who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse. Of the documentary “Leaving Neverland” that details their allegations: “Don’t watch it. It’s f–ing gross.” Although Chappelle says he doesn’t believe the accusers, he imagines a scenario where Jackson is guilty. “I mean, it’s Michael Jackson. I know more than half the people in this room have been molested in their lives, but it wasn’t no goddamn Michael Jackson, was it? This kid got his d–k...
- 8/27/2019
- by Dano Nissen
- Variety Film + TV
In order to shift focus from the much-ballyhooed HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, in which two men -- Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck -- detail allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of pop icon Michael Jackson when they were young boys, the Jackson estate has turned to YouTube.
Jackson's estate released a two-hour concert film on YouTube yesterday evening ahead of the documentary’s premiere that is roughly the same length as part one of the HBO project. The Twitter account for Jackson’s estate tweeted a link to the concert (below) -- which sees Jackson performing his Dangerous Tour live in Bucharest -- about 20 minutes into Leaving Neverland, Variety reports. And given that Leaving Neverland is a two-parter, with the second chapter of the documentary bowing this evening, the Jackson estate added that it will drop a second concert film tonight, featuring Jackson performing live at Wembley Stadium.
In...
Jackson's estate released a two-hour concert film on YouTube yesterday evening ahead of the documentary’s premiere that is roughly the same length as part one of the HBO project. The Twitter account for Jackson’s estate tweeted a link to the concert (below) -- which sees Jackson performing his Dangerous Tour live in Bucharest -- about 20 minutes into Leaving Neverland, Variety reports. And given that Leaving Neverland is a two-parter, with the second chapter of the documentary bowing this evening, the Jackson estate added that it will drop a second concert film tonight, featuring Jackson performing live at Wembley Stadium.
In...
- 3/4/2019
- by Geoff Weiss
- Tubefilter.com
The Michael Jackson estate released a two-hour concert film on YouTube Sunday night in an attempt to divert attention from the premiere of Leaving Neverland. The estate plans to drop another performance tonight, March 4th, to coincide with part two of the bombshell HBO documentary.
The Jackson estate has been fiercely critical of Leaving Neverland, which centers around accusations from two men, Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck, who claim Jackson sexually abused them repeatedly when they were children. Even the concert film the estate chose to release Sunday night seemed...
The Jackson estate has been fiercely critical of Leaving Neverland, which centers around accusations from two men, Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck, who claim Jackson sexually abused them repeatedly when they were children. Even the concert film the estate chose to release Sunday night seemed...
- 3/4/2019
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
The Michael Jackson estate has taken one last swipe at the documentary “Leaving Neverland,” which alleges that the late singer sexually abused boys, by releasing a concert film on YouTube the exact length of the first part of the documentary, which airs on HBO Sunday night.
The Jackson estate’s Twitter account posted a link to the film about 20 minutes into Part 1 of “Leaving Neverland,” announcing that “Live in Bucharest (The Dangerous Tour),” from 1992, would be available for a “limited time.” At two hours and 20 minutes long, it’s the same length as the first part of “Leaving Neverland.”
It doesn’t end there, however. On Monday, a second concert film, “Live at Wembley Stadium” will air the same time as the second part of “Leaving Neverland.”
The move is the latest in series of actions taken by the Jackson estate to attempt to discredit the documentary since its Sundance premiere,...
The Jackson estate’s Twitter account posted a link to the film about 20 minutes into Part 1 of “Leaving Neverland,” announcing that “Live in Bucharest (The Dangerous Tour),” from 1992, would be available for a “limited time.” At two hours and 20 minutes long, it’s the same length as the first part of “Leaving Neverland.”
It doesn’t end there, however. On Monday, a second concert film, “Live at Wembley Stadium” will air the same time as the second part of “Leaving Neverland.”
The move is the latest in series of actions taken by the Jackson estate to attempt to discredit the documentary since its Sundance premiere,...
- 3/4/2019
- by Erin Nyren
- Variety Film + TV
How is it March already? With the Oscars fully in the rearview mirror, now is the chance for TV to take back its share of cultural attention. With Emmy season right on the horizon, that means plenty of new series vying for a spot among the most talked-about titles in the TV universe. That means plenty of offerings on the upcoming calendar across streaming, broadcast, and cable. There are shows about mysterious deaths, shows about the coming end of the world, and shows that feature Tim Tebow possibly giving someone a million dollars.
Below we’ve gathered 14 such series — if you’re looking for the Netflix list, that one’s here.
(We do this roundup of new shows pretty much every month — if you missed any of those previous picks, here are some notable TV premieres from February.)
“The Widow”
If you’re happily married on an Amazon Prime Show,...
Below we’ve gathered 14 such series — if you’re looking for the Netflix list, that one’s here.
(We do this roundup of new shows pretty much every month — if you missed any of those previous picks, here are some notable TV premieres from February.)
“The Widow”
If you’re happily married on an Amazon Prime Show,...
- 3/1/2019
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Following HBO's debut of Dan Reed's Leaving Neverland, a two-part documentary about the accusations of abuse that have been levied against Michael Jackson by Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck, Oprah Winfrey will deliver her own special coverage of the subject.
Oprah Winfrey Presents: After Neverland
...
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Other Links From TVGuide.com The Oprah Winfrey ShowOprah WinfreyLeaving NeverlandMichael JacksonWade RobsonJimmy Safechuck...
Oprah Winfrey Presents: After Neverland
...
Read More >
Other Links From TVGuide.com The Oprah Winfrey ShowOprah WinfreyLeaving NeverlandMichael JacksonWade RobsonJimmy Safechuck...
- 2/27/2019
- by Amanda Bell
- TVGuide - Breaking News
David Crow Feb 19, 2019
The first trailer for the HBO documentary event, Leaving Neverland, has its first trailer, suggesting heinous activity by Michael Jackson.
One of the most talked films out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival was the four-hour and two-part film detailing in-depth some of the most painful accounts of late pop star Michael Jackson’s alleged sexual assault and predation of children. Now the film, which is scheduled to premiere in a matter of weeks on HBO, has its first trailer.
In the below video, we get a hint of how a “fairy tale” invitation to Neverland Ranch became a nightmare for Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck when they were still small boys. Scheduled to debut in March, we are seeing only a glimpse of how the appeal of a theme park with world’s most popular musician could mask what is certainly inappropriate behavior… and perhaps something more sinister.
The first trailer for the HBO documentary event, Leaving Neverland, has its first trailer, suggesting heinous activity by Michael Jackson.
One of the most talked films out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival was the four-hour and two-part film detailing in-depth some of the most painful accounts of late pop star Michael Jackson’s alleged sexual assault and predation of children. Now the film, which is scheduled to premiere in a matter of weeks on HBO, has its first trailer.
In the below video, we get a hint of how a “fairy tale” invitation to Neverland Ranch became a nightmare for Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck when they were still small boys. Scheduled to debut in March, we are seeing only a glimpse of how the appeal of a theme park with world’s most popular musician could mask what is certainly inappropriate behavior… and perhaps something more sinister.
- 2/19/2019
- Den of Geek
It may not be much of a secret that Michael Jackson acted inappropriately with a number of young boys, but there’s no way to prepare yourself for the sickening forensic details presented in Dan Reed’s four-hour exposé. It’s one thing to be vaguely aware of the various allegations that were made against the King of Pop; the asterisks that will always be next to the late mega-star’s name. It’s quite another to hear the horrifyingly lucid testimony that stretches across the entire duration of “Leaving Neverland,” as two of Jackson’s most repeat victims bravely lay bare how a universal icon seduced them away from their realities, splintered their families beyond all recognition, and leveraged their love for him into a disturbing litany of sexual acts.
The eloquent and straightforward “Leaving Neverland” was made for no other reason than to give shape to a nebulous cloud of rumors,...
The eloquent and straightforward “Leaving Neverland” was made for no other reason than to give shape to a nebulous cloud of rumors,...
- 1/25/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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