It has been revealed that the new biopic, Michael, originally had a different ending that was cut from the movie.
Michael follows the titular musician’s journey to fame. From his early Jackson 5 days to when he went solo, the film documents the ups and downs of his career as well as his complex personal life. This biopic aimed to stand out from similar movies and documentaries by focusing more on what happened behind the scenes, beyond the scandals and legal battles.
The final cut of Michael showed the singer performing on his “Bad” tour after cutting off his father. However, an early version of the script had a much more grim ending. It showed the King of Pop looking at himself in a mirror as flashing police lights could be seen in the background. The scene was set in 1993 when he was accused of sexual assault.
Michael’s original ending was not the thing that was removed from the film. Another scene that ultimately got cut during post-production showed authorities at Neverland Ranch looking for any evidence.
According to sources, Lionsgate initially wanted to show how the allegations affected Jackson. However, the ending was abandoned, and any references to the accusations were removed. The change allegedly came after lawyers for Jackson’s estate discovered that a settlement agreement with one of the accusers stated that he wouldn’t be discussed in any films.
Since the clause was discovered so late in the process, the creative team was forced to come up with a new ending for Michael. The process faced more setbacks when its screenwriter, John Logan’s home got damaged in the Palisades fire. These complications pushed back the film’s release date several times, from April 18, 2025, to October 3, 2025, and it was finally released on April 24, 2026.
After the rewrites were officially done, the movie’s cast had to go back to film for 22 days so they could extend existing scenes and shoot new ones. Insiders also claimed that Jackson’s estate covered all expenses involving the process, as it holds an equity stake in Michael.
Despite all the setbacks the film faced, having those specific scenes and the third act scrapped may have actually worked in its favor. One of the reasons Michael stood out was that it didn’t focus on the controversy. A lot of pre-existing films and documentaries about the King of Pop draw a lot of attention to his legal battles and all the accusations. By excluding that, the film showcases a side of Jackson that viewers don’t usually see when watching content about him.
Michael is playing in theaters now.
Release Date
April 24, 2026
Runtime
130 minutes
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Writers
John Logan
Producers
Graham King, John Branca, John McClain