Mark Binelli

And similar to the concert film, it really overperforms.

It's a draw for audiences.

Actually, it's still running today.

And from there, the estate goes on to develop a Broadway show, MJ the Musical.

And describe that show.

So that's essentially a jukebox musical that very cannily takes place during the rehearsals for the Dangerous Tour in 1992.

So this is a year before that first accuser, Jordan Chandler, comes forward.

So the audience is placed in this moment in time when completely uncomplicated Michael Jackson fandom is still possible.

And they really pulled out all the stops for the show.

Lynn Nottage, a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, wrote the book and very coyly hints at it.

certain dark secrets Jackson might have.

The show is built around this reporter from MTV who's there to interview him at the rehearsals.

And this reporter character senses that he has a dark secret, and that secret is eventually revealed to be an addiction to pills, which is a completely acceptable rock star vice.

Yes.

And it works.

It goes on to be a big hit.

Yes.

And everything is basically going according to plan until a documentary premieres at Sundance in 2019 that threatens the entire project.

Hi, I'm Ivan Penn.

I'm an energy reporter for The New York Times.