JAAFAR JACKSON SAYS MICHAEL SEQUEL WILL ADDRESS ABUSE ALLEGATIONS

Jaafar Jackson, who played the adult version of his uncle Michael Jackson in the 2023 biopic, has stated that a planned sequel will explore child sexual abuse allegations from Michael Jackson's perspective. In an interview with GQ, Jackson said the second film would provide "even more insight from his point of view" on the allegations, which he characterised as "someone else's story" and "someone else's idea of what it is". He added that the family has been concerned about "not having Michael's voice being heard" on the matter.

The original film became the highest-grossing biopic of all time, surpassing $1 billion (£731 million) at the global box office. Its narrative timeline covered Jackson's childhood through to the peak of his adult fame during the Bad world tour in the late 1980s. The production underwent reshoots reported to have cost $15 million (£10.9 million) after a legal settlement clause prevented one accuser from being portrayed on screen. Michael Jackson faced multiple allegations of child sexual abuse: in 1993, dentist and screenwriter Evan Chandler accused Jackson of abusing his 13-year-old son Jordan, a claim Jackson denied; the parties reached a financial settlement in 1994. In 2013, choreographer Wade Robson filed a lawsuit against Jackson's estate alleging abuse between ages seven and 14, and actor James Safechuck made similar allegations. Jackson's estate has continuously denied all such allegations.

The sequel is currently in development and is scheduled to begin shooting later this year. No release date has been announced. Jackson's estate did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the planned film's approach to the allegations.