The new Michael Jackson biopic focuses on his early career, avoiding later abuse claims, with family involvement shaping a tightly controlled narrative
PARIS: A new big-budget Michael Jackson biopic is set to hit cinemas, focusing tightly on the King of Pop’s early career.
The film pointedly avoids any reference to the child sex abuse allegations that overshadowed his later life.
Titled “Michael”, the production spans his childhood and climaxes with his 1980s Bad World Tour.
Distributor Lionsgate hopes for global revenues of RM3.3 billion from its RM940 million budget.
This would push it close to the record earnings of the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
The film is produced by Graham King, who also made “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
It stars Jackson’s 29-year-old nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who had no prior acting experience.
“They threw me right in the deep end,” Jaafar told US talkshow host Jimmy Fallon earlier this month.
He added that he was helped with the dancing by his uncle’s real-life choreographers.
All surviving Jackson siblings are credited as executive producers on the film.
This gave them the right to review it before its global release.
Their involvement has led to accusations the film sugar-coats Jackson’s image.
His daughter Paris, who had no involvement, has been an outspoken critic.
“The narrative is being controlled and there’s a lot of inaccuracy and there’s a lot of just full-blown lies,” the actress wrote on Instagram last September.
A significant portion of the original film exploring allegations had to be cut and re-shot.
This was due to a legal clause in a settlement with one accuser, Jordan Chandler.
The clause barred any mention of him in a film, according to Variety magazine.
Jackson was never convicted in criminal or civil court over the allegations.
Other alleged victims filed lawsuits after his 2009 death, some of which remain active.
Professor Mark Anthony Neal of Duke University shared his perspective on the film’s approach.
“I would love that the film would tell the most human story about Michael Jackson possible,” he told AFP.
“But I also realise that we’re in a period of time where Hollywood does not deal with celebrities in that way.”
The film is almost certain to boost the lucrative Jackson family franchise further.
It follows successful stage productions like Broadway’s “MJ: The Musical”.
