Jaafar Jackson says Michael sequel will address abuse allegations
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Actor Jaafar Jackson has given further detail on how the planned sequel to the "Michael" biopic will address the child sexual abuse allegations made against his uncle, Michael Jackson, telling GQ Middle East that the follow-up film will offer "even more insight" from Michael's own perspective. He argued that public accounts of the allegations have so far come only from accusers, and that the Jackson family has long felt his uncle's voice was missing from the narrative, particularly in his later years.
The original film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Lionsgate alongside the Jackson estate, ends in 1987 with the release of the "Bad" video and does not touch on the allegations, which first emerged in the early 1990s; Fuqua has said abuse-related scenes were originally scripted but cut to keep the focus on Michael's rise to stardom. Jaafar Jackson, who plays his uncle in both films, said he hoped the sequel would retain the sense of "purity" and kindness he believes defined Michael despite the controversy. Lionsgate's Adam Fogelson has said production is targeted to begin towards the end of 2026 or in early 2027.
- Jaafar Jackson says "Michael" sequel will show abuse claims from his uncle's viewpoint
- First film ended in 1987, skipping the 1990s allegations entirely
- Sequel production targeted for late 2026 or early 2027
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Michael Jackson's death in 2009 didn't end questions over his legacy, particularly allegations that he sexually abused children, first made publicly in the early 1990s and revisited in later documentaries and lawsuits. He always denied the claims and was acquitted of related criminal charges in 2005. His family, including the estate that manages his affairs, has consistently pushed back against the allegations.
A film about his life, "Michael", was made with the backing of the Jackson estate and stars his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the lead role. That first film covers his career only up to 1987 and does not deal with the abuse claims, which is significant because the estate's close involvement means the story has been told with the family's cooperation and input.
A sequel is now planned to continue the story into the period when the allegations became public, and Jaafar Jackson has been speaking publicly about how it might handle that material. This matters because any dramatisation of the claims, especially one made with family involvement, is likely to be closely scrutinised for how it balances Michael Jackson's own perspective against the accounts given by his accusers.
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Originally published by Deadline as “Jaafar Jackson Says ‘Michael’ Sequel “Will Give Even More Insight” Into Child Abuse Allegations “From His Point Of View””.