Fuqua's Michael: Legal Clause, Reshoots & Sequel Hopes

0:00On April 27, director Antoine Fuqua dropped a bombshell about the Michael Jackson biopic called Michael. He cut a full third of the footage from his director's cut because of a legal clause blocking any depiction of the 1993 child abuse. Allegations. The film stars Jafar Jackson as his uncle and got pushed back a whole year with millions in reshoots to adjust. Fuqua got the bad news right after turning in his cut, calling it a gut punch like what happened with his film. Emancipation, when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. That forced major changes, shifting the story's end from 1995 back to 1988, skipping those tough years. The team, including producer Graham King and writer John Logan, went through a rough stretch rethinking the whole thing. They decided to slow down, start from the beginning, and build Michael's personality so folks get his extreme arc and what shaped him. Fuqua says that scrap footage could fuel a sequel and he's all into direct it if it happens.

1:03Meanwhile, the movie crushed it at the box office. Pulling in 217 million dollars worldwide, it's opening weekend biggest ever for A. Biopic, even with critics not loving it. This pivot keeps the door open for more of Jackson's story down the line, planting those seeds for whatever comes next. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to entertainment and celebrity news today. AI-powered pop culture coverage.