The sequel to Michael Jackson‘s biographical drama may finally confront his controversial past.
The first installment, which arrived in theaters in April, became a global box-office sensation but also drew criticism for sidestepping the controversies that shadowed the pop icon.
Now, Jaafar Jackson, who portrays his late uncle in “Michael,” has hinted that the follow-up could revisit some of the most contentious chapters of the singer’s life, this time from his perspective.
Amid the development of the second installment, Jaafar acknowledged that he has little control over the script’s direction. However, he said he hopes the project would highlight his uncle’s truth.
“I think the second film will give even more insight from his point of view, because at the end of the day, [the allegations] are always from someone else’s,” Jaafar explained.
According to the 30-year-old, the story has long been told by people “driven by an agenda,” rather than the late singer’s, something he believes should not be so.
“And that’s really the issue we’ve been having as a family – not having Michael’s voice being heard. I think that’s very, very important, especially in the late years,” he told GQ Magazine.
The first installment of “Michael” focused largely on the legend’s early career and concluded in 1988, leaving out much of the period when he became the subject of serious child-abuse claims.
Jaafar added that dividing the film into two pieces allows for a detailed portrayal of the singer, helping viewers understand he was a “human being first” before an icon.
He went on to describe the “Smooth Criminal” hitmaker as someone who remained kind-hearted despite facing intense scrutiny throughout his life. According to the young actor, audiences should see more of that side of Michael in the continuation of his story.
Producers Reportedly Removed Controversial Scenes From The Original Script
Jaafar’s comments come months after reports surfaced that the movie parts dealing with the singer’s troubled past were originally included in the screenplay but later removed.
As The Blast previously reported, the scenes about the child abuse claims were cut out due to a legal clause tied to a prior settlement between Jackson and Jordan Chandler’s family.
The changes reportedly also resulted in substantial additional payments for the production’s key figures. Director Antoine Fuqua was initially expected to receive $10 million, while producer Graham King was set to earn $6 million.
Those amounts allegedly increased after the required revisions and reshoots, with Fuqua receiving $15 million more and King another $10 million.
How One Of Michael Jackson’s Accusers Reacted To The Film
When the movie hit cinemas, it stirred a strong reaction from one of his accusers, James Safechuck, who insisted that it should never have been released.
As The Blast reported, Safechuck declared he would never watch it because he does not support people he considers child abusers.
Safechuck and Wade Robson previously alleged in the now-removed HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland” that Jackson sexually abused them as children.
Although Safechuck and Robson sought $400 million in damages from his estate, Jackson was never convicted of a crime, and his estate continues to deny the allegations.
Dan Reed Compared Michael Jackson To Epstein As He Questions Biopic
As Jackson’s accuser reacted, Dan Reed, who directed Safechuck and Robson’s documentary, slammed the authenticity of “Michael.”
Per The Blast, Reed argued that it cannot present a truthful account of the “Thriller” singer’s life while omitting the child abuse allegations that have followed him for decades.
Reed doubled down on his claims, adding that he thinks the deceased vocalist “hurt a lot of children” and was “worse than Jeffrey Epstein.”
“And he may have been a great entertainer, but those two things don’t cancel each other out,” Reed added. “The fact is that pedophiles exist, and he was one of them.”
Jaafar Jackson Scores A Major Box-Office Milestone
Despite the criticism that has followed the portrayal of the late Grammy Winner, the project has performed exceptionally well commercially.
According to The Blast, the production has crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide, reaching approximately $1.001 billion in global ticket sales.
The milestone reportedly makes Jaafar the first lead actor to star in a debut feature that surpasses $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The achievement also places the project among the highest-grossing music-centered biographical productions, surpassing “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the global box office.
