The new Michael Jackson biopic. Why now?
episodePreviously titled “What the new Michael Jackson biopic leaves out” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 2, 2026
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is The Guardian.
What is the significance of the new Michael Jackson biopic?
Today, the new Michael Jackson biopic. Why now?
So these are limited edition fedoras. And you can only get them in selected cinemas, but they were sold out of this one. So if you can get down fast enough, get your fedora.
It's Wednesday morning outside the BFI IMAX Theatre in central London. Michael Jackson fans are out in full force to watch the first screening of Michael. This is the blockbuster biopic hoping to break records and make a billion dollars worldwide. I've been waiting for this day since I was about 80 years old. So I had to come as soon as the early preview started.
We've both seen the movie in Berlin. It's actually our second time getting to see it.
Why is the release of the biopic happening now?
But it's just a powerful film and a great movie for all ages, for kids, for the elderly, everyone, all different races.
Despite a string of one-star reviews, there is excitement, anticipation.
Just have all these songs in my head.
Just gotta get him out. Ready whenever you are, Michael.
Woo! If it's a big year for Michael Jackson fans, it is a mammoth one for his estate.
We need to capitalize on Michael's success. Because a Jackson fan is the brand. That's our Coca-Cola.
This canny operation has turned the half a billion dollar debt owed by Jackson when he was alive into a business generating hundreds of millions of dollars in his death. The jukebox musical, the Cirque du Soleil extravaganza. And alongside it, dozens of themed events, shows, autumn-less brunches, memorializing him as the greatest star ever to be born. I knew you were different the moment you were born.
You let your light shine into the world.
But there is another story that they'd like you to forget. The multiple devastating allegations of child sexual abuse made against Jackson over decades.
Thank you. We have more now on Michael Jackson. The latest on the investigation into allegations of molestation.
And how that drip feed of stories changed the way he was seen forever. But not for everyone.
No, I've been an advocate for that man for as long as I can remember. I've looked into the facts for years. I can give dates, court dates, everything. I'm quite intense about that.
It doesn't worry me because he was about his art. He wanted to be perceived for his art, not for his life. But can you really separate the Michael Jackson who gave us Thriller from the Michael Jackson who admitted to sharing his bed with young boys? From The Guardian, I'm Nosheen Iqbal. Today in Focus, the king of pop and the battle for his legacy. Owen Myers, welcome to Today in Focus.
Thank you so much. I'm happy to be here.
So you're the Deputy Arts Editor for Garden US and you've written this really deep dive into the story behind the making of the Michael Jackson biopic. First of all, how long has it been in the works and what was its original premise?
Yeah, absolutely. So the producer Graham King has had the rights for a while. He was coming out of the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, the extremely commercially successful biopic of Freddie Mercury. But a lot of times it's kind of seemed like it's a beleaguered or if not cursed production. The shooting actually finished and the estate dug out a certain legal clause to show that a certain depictions in the film of an early 90s abuse case, weren't allowed to be shown.
We had a legal issue. We found out after we had finished shooting the film that the estate didn't realise at the time. So it was a little bit of a shock to both of us. I think it's actually been a blessing in disguise, to be honest. This is a really strong film.
So this is because of a legal settlement with the family of Jordan Chandler, who was one of the children who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse. And there was a clause in that settlement that prohibited any mention of Chandler in any future films.
Absolutely. So the film went through some very expensive reshoots that the estate funded, apparently around 10 to 15 million. So what's finally made it to the screen is quite a different version of the script that was originally planned, which was going to end in the early 90s.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:09
2
What is the significance of the new Michael Jackson biopic?
0:09–1:02
3
Why is the release of the biopic happening now?
1:02–15:50
4
What challenges did the production of the biopic face?
15:50–20:44
5
How does Michael Jackson's estate influence the biopic's narrative?
20:44–30:03