Director Antoine Fuqua of the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' expressed skepticism about certain child abuse allegations against the singer in an interview with The New Yorker. He discussed major reshoots prompted by legal restrictions from a past settlement. The film opens in theaters on April 24 from Lionsgate.
Antoine Fuqua addressed the allegations in his first comments on the film's reshoots, which cost up to $15 million, according to sources cited by Variety. The original version opened with the 1993 police raid on Jackson's Neverland Ranch following accusations from 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. Jackson settled the resulting lawsuit for $23 million, after which the Chandler family ceased cooperating with prosecutors, leading to the investigation's closure. A settlement clause prohibited any depiction or mention of Chandler, forcing the removal of these scenes, including Fuqua's shot of Jackson 'being stripped naked, treated like an animal, a monster.' Fuqua told The New Yorker he is not convinced Jackson committed the alleged acts, despite five accusers and Jackson's public statements about sharing his bed with boys. Jackson faced 10 charges in 2005 over another 13-year-old but was acquitted on all counts. The 2019 documentary 'Leaving Neverland' featured allegations from two more individuals. Fuqua voiced doubts about some accusers' parents, particularly Chandler's father, who was recorded threatening to humiliate Jackson. 'Sometimes people do some nasty things for some money,' Fuqua said, while stressing he does not know the full truth. The reshoots occurred over 22 days last June, funded by the Jackson estate. The revised film now culminates at the peak of Jackson's career, emphasizing tensions with his father, Joe Jackson.
