Michael Jackson biopic 'needs extensive reshoots'
'Michael', the upcoming biopic about the late Michael Jackson reportedly needs extensive reshoots due to legal issues.
Michael Jackson's biopic could face lengthy delays as it reportedly needs a major overhaul.
'Michael' - which is being made with the cooperation of the late singer's family and stars his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role - is said to have run into trouble with its third act because of its portrayal of the abuse allegations made by then-13-year-old Jordan Chandler, which saw the teenager testify that the 'Thriller' hitmaker had engaged in "sexual offensive contacts" before receiving a $23 million out-of-court settlement and Jackson not charged over the allegations.
And according to Puck co-founder Matthew Belloni, the Jackson team allegedly signed an agreement prohibiting them from ever dramatising the Chandler family or their story, rendering "several key scenes" unusuable".
The journalist suggested the movie's ending will have to be re-scripted and re-shot as much of the later plot “hinges specifically on the impact of the Chandler circus”.
He wrote: “In the script I read – which I’m told was close to final, but obviously these things are often revised – a tense sequence involves John Branca (Miles Teller), Johnnie Cochran (Derek Luke), and other Jackson lawyers discussing whether to pay off Chandler and his family.”
“At one point, the lawyers play the infamous recording, submitted in court, of Jordan’s father threatening to leverage his son’s accusations to ‘destroy’ his ex-wife and Jackson’s career.
“The ensuing scenes dramatise the extensive police investigation, including a ‘traumatising’ strip search of Michael that scars him for life”.
The report claimed the revelation was only made after director Antoine Fuqua had already wrapped shooting, so will require extensive reshoots, but sources are "confident" and "hopeful" the issues will be resolved.
However, another insider played down suggestions the movie was now "in total chaos".
A source told People magazine: "The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos. The inflammatory headlines about the moving halting are simply not true. The film is moving forward, and reshoots are happening in March."
Previously, Fuqua teased the picture would include “the good, bad and the ugly” parts of the ‘You Are Not Alone’ chart-topper’s life and career.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, he said: “Just to tell the facts as we know it, about the artist, about the man, about the human being. You know, the good, bad and the ugly.”
The director added he was “blown away” by how much Jaafar – the son of Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson – was able to channel his uncle, especially his dancing and singing.
‘The Magnificent Seven’ filmmaker said: “It’s uncanny how much he's like Michael. Sounds like him, dances like him, sings. It's really uncanny.
“Graham King, who is a fantastic producer, found him, and introduced him to me, and I was blown away.”
