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In case Emilia Pérez wasn't providing you with enough film-related drama, Lionsgate has taken Antoine Fuqua's pop-star biopic Michael off its release schedule (at least per IMDB/Box Office Mojo/The Numbers) following a disastrous mistake in the making of the film. The third act of the movie allegedly deals with Michael Jackson's sexual abuse allegations, but one of the men who brought forth one of those allegations reached a legal settlement with Jackson's estate that forbade it from using his name, likeness, or personal details in a film, requiring the entire third act of the 150 million dollar movie to be reshot.

From the moment the film was announced, I was guessing that the film would play it as safe as possible and overlook the allegations for the most part, alongside anything that the Jackson family would consider to be libelous or incendiary, but if what mentioned above is the case, then that film is all set to be a press disaster, and i would be surprised if the film becomes a hit.

That was my assumption too, since the currently-running stage musical pointedly ends in 1992. But I can make sense of the decision to include the material: in recent years the Jackson family has become more defensive of their deceased relative/cash cow's conduct, to the point that they financed and released a couple pro-Jackson, "no he did not sexually abuse those children" documentaries in response to the release of Leaving Neverland. I wouldn't be surprised if they thought a forceful denial of the allegations was necessary to make the movie sell at all (even if I think it's at a minimum distasteful to make the movie at all).

I hope this movie ends up costing $400 million and makes $10. Not $10 million. $10. Sorry, but fuck Michael Jackson and his family (except Janet).

Captain Paranoia wrote: Wed Feb 05, 2025 9:30 pm From the moment the film was announced, I was guessing that the film would play it as safe as possible and overlook the allegations for the most part, alongside anything that the Jackson family would consider to be libelous or incendiary, but if what mentioned above is the case, then that film is all set to be a press disaster, and i would be surprised if the film becomes a hit.

Early script reviews said that the movie very much took an offensive position regarding his accusers and tries to paint Jackson as the victim

I don’t know how much more Lionsgate can take until it’s bought out or its various entities are broken up. It’s had a horrid 5+ years

Trailer.

If how the film would handle make-up was among anyone's concerns, I doubt their expected sticking point would be whatever the heck is being done to Colman Domingo here.

It'll probably be successful but I am amazed they've made this tbh. What next? The Jeffrey Epstein biopic - though that's been done, right? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scary_of_Sixty-First (there seems to be this kitschy Internet meme related to this film).

Should've got Courtney B. Vance back as Johnny Cochran.

This could objectively be the worst musician biopic ever made, and will still clear a billion, easy.

Monterey Jack wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:40 pm This could objectively be the worst musician biopic ever made, and will still clear a billion, easy.

This is obviously another cheesy hagiography that follows the cynical cycle of these things that are obviously making enough money for Hollywood to keep churning them out. The Beatles one is already standing by. I think the last one I saw was the Ian Curtis one, and I thought that sucked too. They're all so formulaic and generally ruin whatever enigmatic quality these artists' music might still hold.

Did anyone see the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man? It’s a little less formulaic…

brundlefly wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 4:01 pm Trailer.

If how the film would handle make-up was among anyone's concerns, I doubt their expected sticking point would be whatever the heck is being done to Colman Domingo here.

Nice, a quantized version of 'Billie Jean.' Sounds a bit like Kpop Demon Hunters.

They could've recycled the tagline from Michael (1996): "He's an angel. Not a saint."

DarkImbecile wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 3:19 pm Did anyone see the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man? It’s a little less formulaic…

I've never had the onus to listen Robbie Williams, but he seems like a funny, self-deprecating guy when I've heard him talk. I thought his Rock DJ video from several decades ago was equal parts revolting and amusing. I've been also meaning to catch up on the Weird Al one with Danielle Radcliffe, though I worry it will fall short of my lofty expectations.

Maltic wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 3:36 pm They could've recycled the tagline from Michael (1996): "He's an angel. Not a saint."

There's probably some taglines from Markus Schleinzer's Michael (2011) that could be recycled for a Michael Jackson biopic too,

zedz wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 8:01 pm

Maltic wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 3:36 pm They could've recycled the tagline from Michael (1996): "He's an angel. Not a saint."

There's probably some taglines from Markus Schleinzer's Michael (2011) that could be recycled for a Michael Jackson biopic too,

Or the Carl Dreyer film.

zedz wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 8:01 pm

Maltic wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 3:36 pm They could've recycled the tagline from Michael (1996): "He's an angel. Not a saint."

There's probably some taglines from Markus Schleinzer's Michael (2011) that could be recycled for a Michael Jackson biopic too,

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