Jaafar Jackson says a planned sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic will address sexual abuse allegations against his uncle, a topic the first film largely avoided.
The original film, released earlier this year and directed by Antoine Fuqua, faced criticism for not covering the accusations. According to the source material, a legal clause discovered late in production prevented one of Jackson's accusers from being depicted in any fictional account of that period.
Jaafar Jackson, who starred in the commercially successful biopic, told the Guardian that the sequel will present the late singer's perspective on the allegations. "It's important that Michael's voice is heard," Jackson said.
The first Michael film became the most commercially successful biopic of all time, yet drew sustained backlash for its omission of allegations that have shadowed Jackson's legacy since the 1993 and 2005 civil and criminal cases, and more recently through the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland.
The source material does not specify when the sequel will be made, what form it will take, or provide further details about how Jackson's defence will be presented. It also does not indicate whether similar legal restrictions might apply to the follow-up project.