Michael Jackson biopic under fire as Leaving Neverland director calls script draft 'startlingly disingenuous'

The script for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, titled Michael, has been described as 'startlingly disingenuous' by Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed.

After reading a draft for Michael, the British filmmaker, whose two-part documentary explored allegations of sexual abuse against the King of Pop, expressed outrage over how the movie discredited Wade Robson and James Safechuck 'contention that Jackson was a pedophile,' according to Variety.

'Jackson is only ever seen caring for children with childhood cancer, or dancing with a little girl in a wheelchair, or tucking up multiple little boys, mostly his nephews, at sleepovers,' Reed told the outlet. 'It feels like the creators of the movie have been stuck in a room with John Branca and just told what to write.' 

He continued: 'It feels like the creators of the movie have been stuck in a room with John Branca and just told what to write.' 

The script for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, titled Michael, has been described as 'startlingly disingenuous' by Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed; seen in October 2023

Branca, who was Jackson's attorney throughout his career, will be played by Miles Teller, alongside Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson as the Thriller hitmaker, Colman Domingo as Jackson's father, Joe, and Nia Long as Jackson's mother, Katherine.

Michael is slated for an April 18, 2025 theatrical release in the United States, according to Deadline, while Universal handles overseas distribution. 

Directed by Antoine Fuqua with a screenplay written by John Logan, the biographical musical drama follows the life and four-decade career of Michael Jackson, who was one of eight Jackson children, five of which comprised the original pop sensation, the Jackson 5. 

Logan, 62, has a long proven track record as a playwright and filmmaker, writing or co-writing the likes of Gladiator (2000), The Aviator (2004), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007), Hugo (2011) and the James Bond 007 films Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015).

According to Lionsgate, the film will delve into all aspects of Michael's life, although it's unknown how or if the more scandalous controversies of his life, including allegations of child sexual abuse, will be addressed, considering the fact that the biopic is being made in conjunction with the singer's estate.

'Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop, the official synopsis reads.

'The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances.

'As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.'

After reading a draft for Michael, the British filmmaker, whose two-part documentary explored allegations of sexual abuse against the King of Pop, expressed outrage over how the movie discredited Wade Robson and James Safechuck 'contention that Jackson was a pedophile,' according to Variety

After production for the film was delayed this past year due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the main photography is now set to begin on January 22.

Bohemian Rhapsody's Graham King is among the producers working on the project that also includes John Branca and John McClain, who are the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate.

From the looks of his Instagram photo post in January 2023 after he landed the role of his late uncle, Jaafar, who is one of Jermaine Jackson's seven children, could be seen in a dance studio working on moves made famous by MJ for at least the last year.

'I'm humbled and honored to bring my Uncle Michael's story to life,' Jaafar wrote on Instagram on January 30, 2023. 'To all the fans all over the world, I'll see you soon.'

'Jackson is only ever seen caring for children with childhood cancer, or dancing with a little girl in a wheelchair, or tucking up multiple little boys, mostly his nephews, at sleepovers,' Reed told the outlet

He continued: 'It feels like the creators of the movie have been stuck in a room with John Branca and just told what to write'

The singer and songwriter, who has been singing and dancing since age 12, is the son of former Jackson 5 member and solo act Jermaine Jackson, 69.

'It's uncanny how much he's like Michael … sounds like him, dances like him, sings. It's really uncanny,' Fuqua said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

'Graham King, who is a fantastic producer, found him, and introduced him to me, and I was blown away.'

Fuqua is coming off directing his third installment of The Equalizer franchise starring Denzel Washington for Sony Pictures.

His prior feature, the Will Smith slavery drama Emancipation, was released by Apple in 2022.

Thrust into the spotlight as a child, Michael Jackson was just six-years-old when he and his older siblings made their debut as the Jackson 5 in 1964.

Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson is set to star as the Thriller hitmaker

Jackson released 10 studio albums as a solo artist fro, between 1972 and 2001, which comes off the heels of the 10 studio recordings he did as the Jackson 5 and The Jacksons from 1969 to 1975.

During his four-decade career, Michael's contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture.

With 32 million copies sold worldwide by the end of 1983, Jackson's Thriller had the distinction of being the best-selling studio album of all time, and was ratified by Guinness World Records on February 7, 1984.

In the years since the 1980s, Thriller has gone on to solidify itself as the best-selling album of all time with more than 70 million copies sold worldwide.