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Spike Lee Defends “Michael” Biopic’s Omission, Delays to 2026

5/4/2026

Summary

Spike Lee Defends

Spike Lee defended Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” for omitting child sexual abuse allegations.
He noted the film ends in 1988, before the first accusation in 1993, placing the allegations outside its timeline.
A settlement with Jordan Chandler barred his depiction, prompting a re-shoot that added 22 days and moved the release from April 2025 to April 2026.
“Michael” opened on April 24, earning $97.5 million domestically, $183.8 million in North America and $423 million worldwide.

Summary

Jackson Biopic Splits

The film set the record for the biggest opening weekend ever for a musical biopic.
Critics largely panned the movie, accusing it of whitewashing Michael Jackson’s sexual-abuse allegations.
Lionsgate is weighing a split into two parts, planning a sequel to cover later years.
The initial cut ran over three and a half hours before settlement-driven edits reduced its length.

Summary

Fuqua Reveals Settlement

Director Antoine Fuqua said a $23 million settlement bars depiction of the abuse allegations in “Michael.”
He revealed his original cut showed Jackson stripped naked, treated like an animal, as a provocative defense.
Fuqua added he is not convinced Jackson committed the alleged acts.
He noted that discussions about Black artists cause a pause and that Jackson faced ten 2005 charges for alleged abuse of a 13-year-old but was acquitted.

History

Historical Context

The 2026 Michael Jackson biopic, released by Lionsgate, earned $97.5 million domestically and $423 million worldwide, but its script was reshaped after lawyers uncovered a 1994 settlement that bars any mention of Jordan Chandler. That $15.3 million agreement, reached when Jackson faced child-abuse accusations, now limits how the estate can portray the scandal, a point echoed by Spike Lee and Antoine Fuqua.

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Spike Lee Defends

Spike Lee defended Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” for omitting child sexual abuse allegations.
He noted the film ends in 1988, before the first accusation in 1993, placing the allegations outside its timeline.
A settlement with Jordan Chandler barred his depiction, prompting a re-shoot that added 22 days and moved the release from April 2025 to April 2026.
“Michael” opened on April 24, earning $97.5 million domestically, $183.8 million in North America and $423 million worldwide.

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