The new film “Michael”, about Michael Jackson’s rise to fame, went through major changes and delays.

It was originally going to open with the 1993 child molestation allegations, showing Jackson at Neverland Ranch as police arrived.

That scene, and most of the scandal part, was cut, shifting the movie away from controversy.

The film ran into last-minute problems when the Jackson estate found a legal clause banning any mention of Jordan Chandler.

The ending had to be rewritten, and things got worse when screenwriter John Logan’s house was damaged in a fire.

The release date, first set for April 2025, was pushed to October, and now it’s planned for spring 2026.

These revisions led to additional photography, with the cast reassembling for 22 days in Los Angeles last June to shoot the new third act and expand earlier scenes.

This phase of production, unlike the primary filming in Santa Barbara, did not qualify for state tax rebates, adding an estimated $10 million to $15 million to the film's $155 million budget.

The Jackson estate covered these additional costs, as their error necessitated the changes, securing an equity stake in the film as a result.

The new film “Michael” reimagines Michael Jackson at the peak of his career during the iconic Bad tour, focusing on electrifying performances and his legendary music.

While it sidesteps some of Jackson’s more eccentric behaviors, it includes touching moments, like him buying toys for children in a hospital.

The story adds drama through Jackson’s complex relationship with his strict father, Joe Jackson, who worried Michael’s solo success would overshadow the Jackson 5.

The film also explores Michael’s recovery from the severe scalp burns he suffered during a 1984 Pepsi commercial accident, including his struggle with painkillers.

Jackson is played by his real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson, while Colman Domingo portrays Joe Jackson.

Notably, Janet Jackson doesn’t appear, but Michael’s son Prince served as an executive producer and was present on set daily.

While the estate acknowledges the controversy surrounding the child abuse allegations Michael always denied, they were encouraged by the success of the Broadway musical MJ and other projects like the Cirque du Soleil show One and the 2009 film This Is It.

Producer Graham King, who spent years interviewing those who knew Jackson, hopes to expand “Michael” into a two-part story.

Lionsgate and Universal believe there’s enough material for sequels, potentially exploring Jackson’s later albums, Neverland Ranch, and love of animals, though how the later legal battles would be handled is unclear.

Early tracking suggests “Michael” could open above $55 million domestically, outpacing Bohemian Rhapsody’s $51 million debut, with a potential $700 million worldwide gross.

If successful, it could set the stage for more films exploring Jackson’s remarkable legacy.