Jackson biopic shelves dark truths: legal battles and a sequel hint
The new Michael Jackson biopic, starring Jaafar Jackson, has landed in theaters to a chorus of critical disappointment – and a surprising legal hurdle. Critics are eviscerating the film for its sanitized portrayal of the late singer, opting for a rose-tinted lens that conspicuously sidesteps Jackson’s later legal troubles and allegations of abuse.
A carefully constructed narrative
The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, concludes with a dismissive ‘His story continues’ tag, abruptly cutting off the narrative at the 1988 Bad Tour performance. This abrupt ending, coupled with the complete absence of Janet Jackson – at her request – fuels ongoing debate about the ethical boundaries of depicting an artist alongside persistent accusations.
Legal roadblocks and a potential sequel
What initially appeared as a strategic choice to celebrate Jackson’s legacy has quickly unraveled. The production faced a significant setback when it was discovered that a settlement from a 1993 allegation included a clause preventing any depiction of the victim in future Jackson-related projects. Lionsgate reportedly shelled out a staggering $50 million to reshoot portions of the film and excise the problematic material entirely.
Fuqua’s defense and a lingering interest
As Fuqua explained to Deadline, the inclusion of such sensitive details risked alienating a broader audience unfamiliar with Jackson’s complex history. “What we realized, if you start there, some people who don’t know Michael, it’s out of context,” he stated. “It was important to take the audience through a process of how do you get to wherever it’s going to go in a second movie; for people to get a bigger idea of his personality and what shaped him.”
Domingo’s foreshadowing
Colman Domingo, portraying Joe Jackson, hinted at a potential sequel that might delve deeper into the artist’s life beyond the initial narrative. “There's a possibility of there being a part two, that may deal with some other things that happen afterwards,” he confided to Today. “This is about the making of Michael, how he was raised, and then how he was trying to find his voice as an artist and be a solo artist. That's what I have to say about that.”
Box office success masks underlying issues
Despite the critical backlash and legal complications, Michael is proving to be a box office phenomenon, opening with $97 million domestically and $217 million globally. However, the film’s spectacular success – the second-biggest debut of the year – does little to address the fundamental questions surrounding artistic representation and the responsibility to confront uncomfortable truths. The shift to framing the excision of the allegations as a springboard for a sequel underscores the studio’s calculated approach, prioritizing financial gain over a potentially more honest reckoning. Glen Wilson/Lionsgate’s strategic gambit remains to be seen, but the evidence suggests a reluctance to fully confront the darker chapters of Jackson’s life, even as the legal ramifications continue to unfold, and a significant victim remains conspicuously absent from the narrative.