Michael Jackson fans rejoiced for a moment, only to be perhaps disappointed now. Lionsgate and the filmmakers behind the biopic ‘Michael’ are restricting media access and limiting cast interviews before the film’s nationwide release on April 24.
The studio has not yet held screenings for journalists, according to industry reports. This might be due to the previous reports of significant script revisions and internal family disagreements regarding the portrayal of the late pop singer.
Members of the Jackson family have expressed differing views on the project. Jermaine Jackson reportedly supported the film during a private screening, according to TMZ. However, the singer’s daughter, Paris Jackson, said she had zero involvement in the final production and denied the claims as her notes were ignored.
“I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest [and] didn’t sit right with me,” Paris said on Instagram.
She further noted the film “panders” to specific fans who prefer a certain image of her father:
“When they didn’t address it, I moved on with my life. Not my monkeys, not my circus. God bless and godspeed. A big section of the film panders to a very specific section of my dad’s fandom that still lives in the fantasy, and they’re gonna be happy with it.”
The film reportedly underwent 15 million dollars in reshoots and changed its ending due to legal requirements, according to Variety. Attorneys for the Jackson estate discovered a clause in a 1994 settlement that prevented any depiction of Evan Chandler, who first accused Jackson of misconduct in 1993.
Variety reported that the original script included scenes of investigators searching Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Sources close to the film said the final version now ends with Jackson’s ‘Bad’ tour in the late 1980s, removing later depictions of legal scandals. The film arrives as legal challenges against the Jackson estate continue. While Jackson was acquitted of all charges in a 2005 criminal trial, two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, are currently seeking 400 million dollars in damages in a civil suit.
John C. Carpenter, an attorney for the two men, said in an interview with The Daily Beast that the film represents “propaganda.” Carpenter said his clients want to “get the truth out” through their upcoming jury trial scheduled for November.
Director Antoine Fuqua led the production, which stars Jaafar Jackson as his late uncle, Michael Jackson. The film follows the singer’s life from his childhood in the Jackson 5 through his solo career in the 1980s.
The film cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson (Michael’s father), Nia Long as Katherine Jackson (Michael’s mother), Jamal R. Henderson as Jermaine Jackson (Michael’s older brother) Tre Horton as Marlon Jackson (Michael’s older brother), Rhyan Hill as Tito Jackson (Michael’s older brother), Joseph David-Jones as Jackie Jackson (Michael’s older brother), Jessica Sula as La Toya Jackson (Michael’s older sister), and Miles Teller as John Branca. The movie has a total running time of two hours and seven minutes.
Following its Berlin premiere on April 10, 2026, ‘Michael’ is set to hit U.S. theaters on April 24 via Lionsgate, with Universal Pictures handling the film’s international distribution.