'Michael' Biopic Cut One of the Most Dramatic Moments of Titular Singer's Life

The Original 'Michael' Ending Was Very Different Lionsgate Published Apr 25, 2026, 10:40 PM EDT Richard is a writer/journalist from Oregon (by way of California) with a love of Marvel, Star Wars, DC, and all kinds of entertainment. He joined MovieWeb in January 2026 as a Movie & TV Writer/Editor. Richard has published articles, videos, and interviews with The Direct (Senior Writer), Agents of Fandom, and The Illuminerdi, and has attended a handful of live Comic Cons, premieres, and other events. Becoming one of the biggest biopics released in recent memory, Antoine Fuqua's Michael shines a new light on the life of the late Grammy-winning artist Michael Jackson. Alongside an all-star cast that includes Colman Domingo, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, and Nia Long, Jackson is played in this movie by his real-life nephew, Jafaar Jaclson, who brings his late uncle to life for a new audience in theaters. This movie delved into Jackson's personal life and career, from his time with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to his Bad tour as an adult in the late 1980s, showing his rise to fame and his struggle to escape mistreatment by his family. Notably, Michael seemed to end abruptly, according to many fans , finishing out his story during the 1988 Bad Tour and showing him taking the stage at Wembley Stadium in the United Kingdom to perform in front of over half a million people over seven sold-out nights. While this moment came at the peak of his prime, it left the next 20 years of his life before he suffered acute propofol intoxication and cardiac arrest, which led to his death in 2009. Now, following reports of major changes to the movie, new information has finally come out about what was originally going to be shown. Following Michael 's release in theaters, Variety reported on a moment from the late Michael Jackson's life that was cut from the film during production. According to the report, the movie was originally supposed to begin with a shot of Jackson staring at his reflection in a mirror as police car lights flashed behind him in 1993, having just been accused of child molestation. That sequence, plus another one featuring investigators arriving at Neverland ranch to search for evidence in this case, was left in the editing room. Much of the movie's third act was originally devoted to this scandal, but that entire part of the storyline was scrapped during production. Attorneys for the Jackson estate (which served as a producer on Michael ) realized that there was a clause in a settlement with Jordan Chandler, one of Jackson's accusers, that barred any mention or depiction of him in the movie. This forced the filmmakers to come up with a new ending, which was delayed further after screenwriter John Logan's house was damaged during the horrific Palisades fire in January 2025. That incident forced the first of multiple delays to the film's release, before the cast assembled in June 2025 for just over three weeks of additional photography to shoot the new third act and finish earlier scenes in the movie. While ideas for a sequel to Michael could be in place , these legalities may make it difficult for the story to explore the full breadth of the darker parts of Jackson's life. However, considering the movie is already on its way to becoming one of the biggest hits of any biopic at the box office in history, only time will tell whether Lionsgate Films and the powers that be decide to add a new chapter to the singer's on-screen legacy. Michael is now playing in theaters worldwide. Release Date April 24, 2026 Runtime 130 minutes Director Antoine Fuqua Writers John Logan Producers Graham King, John Branca, John McClain Jaafar Jackson Michael Jackson Joe Jackson Michael is an upcoming American biographical musical drama film based on the life of the American singer, songwriter, and dancer Michael Jackson. It is directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. Michael Jackson is portrayed by his nephew Jaafar Jackson, in his film debut.