Today in Focus: The New Michael Jackson Biopic. Why Now?
Date: April 23, 2026
Host: Nosheen Iqbal
Guests: Owen Myers (Deputy Arts Editor, Guardian US), Lanre Bakare (Arts and Culture Correspondent, The Guardian)
Episode Theme:
The Guardian’s Today in Focus examines the release of the new Michael Jackson biopic, exploring the motivations behind its timing, the controversies surrounding Jackson’s legacy, and the film’s relationship with both his rise to pop superstardom and the persistent, devastating allegations of child sexual abuse. Through reporting, analysis, and cultural reflection, the episode interrogates whether it’s possible to separate Jackson’s artistry from his alleged crimes and why his cultural impact remains undiminished for so many.
Episode Overview
The episode opens with hype outside the BFI IMAX, where fans eagerly await the first public screening of the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael. Despite negative reviews, enthusiasm from a diverse, devoted fanbase is palpable. Hosts and guests delve into the film’s development, the Jackson estate’s business imperatives, the suppression of abuse allegations within the film narrative, and the complex cultural forces shaping memory and legacy.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Biopic’s Development and Legal Constraints
[03:49-05:33]
- Michael was produced by Graham King, following his success with Bohemian Rhapsody.
- The film faced a “beleaguered” production, including post-filming legal issues due to the Jordan Chandler family settlement, which banned mention of Jordan Chandler in future depictions.
- Owen Myers [04:04]: “The producer, Graham King, has had the rights for a while... But a lot of times it’s kind of seemed like it’s a beleaguered or if not cursed production.”
- Nosheen Iqbal [04:52]: “This is because of a legal settlement with the family of Jordan Chandler… that prohibited any mention of Chandler in any future films.”
- The exclusion of Chandler’s allegations necessitated $10-15 million in reshoots, majorly altering the narrative to focus primarily on Jackson’s artistic peak (pre-1990s).
2. The Estate, Marketing, and Shaping the Narrative
[05:33-09:57]
- Michael Jackson’s estate is run by lawyers John McLean and John Branca, who revitalized the brand following Jackson’s death, capitalizing on his catalog and legacy.
- Owen Myers [08:02]: “The executors of the estate are two lawyers named John McLean and John Branca. They took over the Jackson estate after he died.”
- Massive marketing campaign surrounds the film—pop-up exhibits, influencer screenings, flash mobs—while reviews are minimized and dissenting voices (even from Jackson’s daughter Paris) sidelined.
- The documentary This Is It marked the beginning of the estate’s powerful narrative control and lucrative posthumous business.
3. Michael Jackson’s Peak and Cultural Dominance
[10:02-12:34]
- Jackson’s 1980s superstardom is described as unparalleled—beyond even the combined impact of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
- Lanre Bakare [10:12]: “Take someone like Taylor Swift, take Beyoncé, put them together, times them by 10, and you’re still absolutely nowhere near what Michael Jackson was at his peak.”
- Groundbreaking albums (Thriller sold 80 million copies), boundary-pushing music videos, and global fan hysteria are discussed.
- Personal reminiscences highlight Jackson’s generational appeal and cultural omnipresence, especially among communities of color.
4. The Abuse Allegations: Timeline and Details
[14:07-22:30]
- Jordan Chandler Case ([14:07-16:54]):
- 1993: Chandler, aged 12, accuses Jackson of abuse. Police ask for a drawing of Jackson’s genitalia; subsequent strip search confirms similarities. Jackson settles out of court for $25 million.
- Owen Myers [15:38]: “That lines up with a lot of what, you know, the grooming playbook typically is… The pictures matched up. This is confirmed by multiple detectives from the LAPD at the time.”
- Other Allegations and Trials ([17:20-20:17]):
- 2003: Martin Bashir documentary raises public suspicion; Gavin Arvizo case leads to a criminal trial in 2005, resulting in an acquittal.
- Continued defense from celebrity friends like Macaulay Culkin, who maintains innocence in their relationship.
- Posthumous Allegations ([20:17-22:30]):
- Leaving Neverland (2018) documentary details new and chilling allegations by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, due to go to trial.
- In 2026, four Cassio siblings file further claims of abuse and trafficking, likely heading to trial next year.
- Despite these, the estate pushes the biopic narrative.
5. Black Cultural Criticism, Denial, and Defensive Narratives
[23:40-27:10]
- Prominent black critics experience a mix of denial and protectionism, shaped by a desire to shield black artists from historical and industry harms, even as allegations mount.
- Lanre Bakare [24:09]: “I think there is a protective instinct, especially from a lot of black cultural critics, to protect black artists because of the way that black people in general have been treated historically…”
- The guest unpacks Jackson’s traumatic childhood (abuse by his father Joe, lack of normalcy, possible exploitation in the industry) and how it’s used to rationalize his behavior: “He was like this kind of Peter Pan style character. So that somehow explained the fact that he wanted to hang out with children.”
- The argument: white America embraced Jackson in life, but now expects black America to own or denounce his alleged crimes.
6. Why Now? PR, Amnesia, and Selective Narrative
[27:46-30:36]
- Timing is strategic; the biopic arrives several years after the most recent allegations, capitalizing on audience nostalgia and doubt while avoiding serious engagement with Jackson’s darker history.
- Lanre Bakare [28:06]: “The gap in time from 2019 and those allegations to now has been really useful for the Michael Jackson estate. And in that intervening period, they’ve made a lot of money out of multiple musicals, merchandise sales... Michael is the crown jewel in that new cultural awakening.”
- The sanitization of musical biopics (“not even like warts and all”) is critiqued. The guests point out how, after the O.J. Simpson retrospectives that re-examined America itself, the Jackson movie sidelines critical context in favor of celebration.
- Lanre Bakare [29:37]: “It’s a story up to the mid-80s where everything’s kind of all right and Michael Jackson is the hero... But we all know there’s this second part of his life, or third acts really, where he’s the villain. And we all know that, but we’re not gonna see it.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Owen Myers [04:04]: “The shooting actually finished and the estate dug out a certain legal clause to show that certain depictions in the film of an early 90s abuse case weren’t allowed to be shown.”
- Lanre Bakare [10:12]: “Take someone like Taylor Swift, take Beyoncé, put them together, times them by 10, and you’re still absolutely nowhere near what Michael Jackson was at his peak.”
- Owen Myers [15:38]: “The pictures matched up. And this is confirmed by multiple detectives from the LAPD at the time. Jackson called the experience the most humiliating ordeal of his life.”
- Lanre Bakare [25:33]: “He would whip them. I was reading a thing the other day, Michael Jackson saying he would like apply oil to them so that he could get more kind purchase on, on this kind of like physical assault that he was putting his children through.”
- Lanre Bakare [27:10]: “The reason Michael Jackson became Michael Jackson. But when it comes to the allegations and the dark stuff, all of a sudden it’s a black problem. And why aren’t you coming out and decrying him?”
- Lanre Bakare [29:37]: “For people like me who like Michael Jackson, love the music but have this massive asterisk because of the accusations, I am not that excited about this biopic because I know exactly what it’s going to show me.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:59-02:34 — Scene at BFI IMAX; fan excitement, scale of biopic
- 03:49-05:33 — The biopic’s production history, legal interference from the estate
- 05:33-09:57 — Estate’s business empire; media control
- 10:02-12:34 — Michael Jackson’s cultural dominance recounted
- 14:07-16:54 — 1993 Jordan Chandler case; police investigation
- 17:20-20:17 — Timeline of abuse allegations; 2005 trial; celebrity defenses
- 20:17-22:30 — Posthumous allegations and Leaving Neverland
- 23:40-27:10 — Cultural criticism, black artists, denial, and rationalization
- 27:46-30:36 — Timing, cultural amnesia, sanitized narrative, critique of the biopic
Final Reflection
Today in Focus presents a deeply nuanced look at the making and meaning of the Michael Jackson biopic, exposing the calculated management of Jackson’s legacy by a powerful estate, the persistence of denial and protectionism in both fandom and criticism, and the dissonance at the heart of separating art from artist. The episode underscores how, in the age of celebrity legacy-management and posthumous branding, the full complexity of an icon’s life—and its darkest chapters—can still be relegated to the shadows.
Further Reading:
Owen Myers’ detailed piece on the biopic and Peter Bradshaw’s review are available at theguardian.com.