Paris Jackson is publicly challenging her father’s estate over the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, accusing co-executor John Branca of mishandling the film’s production due to a lack of understanding of industry practices.
According to the estate’s response, Jackson and her legal team demonstrate “a complete lack of understanding about how the motion picture industry works and the role of producers in it.” The dispute centers on a 1994 agreement with the family of Jordan Chandler, which settled allegations of sexual abuse for over $20 million and included restrictions on depicting that relationship in media.
Jackson claims Branca failed to recognize the significance of this deal when overseeing the film as a producer, leading to costly reshoots. The biopic, initially completed in 2024, underwent significant retooling after the agreement was revisited, requiring up to $15 million in additional photography to overhaul the film’s structure.
Fuqua has acknowledged the reshoots, explaining that the original version opened with the 1993 Neverland Ranch police raid related to the Chandler allegations before flashing back to Jackson’s early career. However, the final cut removes all references to Jordan Chandler or his family’s allegations.
The film, which traces Jackson’s rise to fame through 1988, was approved and financed by the Michael Jackson estate. Its premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood saw notable absences, including Janet Jackson, who declined to participate or be portrayed in the biopic and Paris Jackson, who did not attend.
LaToya Jackson addressed Janet’s absence on the red carpet, stating, “I wish everybody was in the movie. She was asked and she kindly declined so you have to respect her wishes.” LaToya also praised her nephew Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of Michael, saying, “Oh my gosh, I have to tell you that Jaafar was absolutely fabulous. I’m sure you’ve seen the movie and you know how wonderful he is, how we all forget and think that we’re watching Mike. It’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot this is Jaafar.’”
Fuqua emphasized his intent to involve the Jackson family in the project, telling Variety, “You’re telling somebody’s life, you want to make sure that they’re happy.”
