While Michael Jackson’s team has always denied the allegations, the new documentary will dive further into the accusers’ lives and the challenges they faced after going public.
Michael Jackson passed away in 2009 due to cardiac arrest. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
The controversy surrounding Michael Jackson is back in the spotlight in the upcoming Surviving Michael Jackson, a sequel to the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. The original series focused on James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who accused the King of Pop of molesting them as children at his Neverland Ranch. While Jackson’s team has always denied the allegations, the new documentary will dive further into the accusers’ lives and the challenges they faced after going public with their claims. It will also provide a look at their legal battles with MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, including footage of court hearings.
According to Variety, HBO, who produced the original documentary, is not involved this time, as they were sued for $100 million by Jackson’s legal team. The lawsuit claimed that Leaving Neverland violated a 27-year-old non-disparagement clause from a 1992 concert film linked to Jackson’s Dangerous tour. As per the statement, the film promises to “show the extent to which the Jackson estate has fought to prevent James and Wade from having their day in court.”
When Michael Jackson was alive, he always denied the allegations against him and was found not guilty in court. Despite this, Leaving Neverland won an Emmy for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special and a BAFTA TV Award for Best Factual Series.
As per distributor, Sphere Abacus’ website, “Filmed over five years with full access to Wade, James, their families and legal teams, Leaving Neverland II: Surviving Michael Jackson tells the story of a difficult journey and its many twists, turns and setbacks. Returning multi-award-winning director Dan Reed documents the second stage of Wade and James’s quest which is now close to fruition. The documentary also examines the impact of its 2019 predecessor Leaving Neverland and of Oprah Winfrey’s follow-up programme on the two men and their families and the hard-core MJ fan community. “
Reports suggest that a final documentary is planned to be released in 2026, focusing on the court trial. If the accusers win their case, it can transform the entertainment industry. Music and film companies may no longer be able to ignore or avoid responsibility when a celebrity is accused of sexually abusing a minor under their supervision.
The King of Pop passed away in 2009 at the age of 50 due to cardiac arrest. Surviving Michael Jackson is scheduled to premiere on March 18.
