After Smash Opening, ‘Michael’ Biopic Director Says There’s ‘Absolutely’ Footage For a Potential Sequel, Addresses Leaving Out Abuse Allegations
Yahoo • • general
Key Points:
- The Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, earned a record-breaking $97 million domestically and over $217 million globally during its launch weekend, highlighting Jackson's enduring cultural impact.
- The film covers Jackson's life from his early years to the peak of his career but omits the sexual abuse allegations by Jordan Chandler due to a $50 million reshoot triggered by a settlement clause preventing dramatization of the case.
- Fuqua aimed to humanize Jackson by focusing on his music, eccentric personality, and personal struggles, deliberately setting up a potential sequel to address the allegations and later years of Jackson's life.
- The director confirmed that substantial footage exists for a sequel exploring the allegations and Jackson's decline, expressing a strong desire to direct the follow-up if scheduling allows.
- The film intentionally ends before the controversies and medical issues that contributed to Jackson's death, emphasizing his complex character and early experiences, including abuse by his father and struggles with prescription drug use.
