Morning Wire How Should We Think About Michael Jackson?
May 2, 2026
Dan Reed, documentary filmmaker known for Leaving Neverland, talks about the new biopic on Michael Jackson and why it may sanitize his story. He discusses leaked scripts, legal settlements that shaped portrayals, and how allegations should affect public memory. The conversation also covers credibility debates among accusers and whether art can be enjoyed apart from its creator.
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Michael Biopic Whitewashes Controversy
- Michael is portrayed as a triumphant, crowd-pleasing figure in the new biopic despite critics calling it a whitewash.
- Dan Reed says the film sidesteps allegations and leans into a jukebox, celebratory narrative focused on performance and nostalgia.
Press Premiere Chaos And Leaked Script
- Dan Reed attended a double premiere weekend with both Michael and Leaving Neverland press screenings in the same theater.
- He read an early leaked script where the Jordan Chandler story framed Jackson as an innocent victim and said legal settlements forced major reshoots paid for by the estate.
Jordan Chandler Story Removed By Settlement
- An early Michael script reportedly centered the Jordan Chandler 1993 allegations and painted Chandler's family as extortionists.
- Reed says a settlement clause prevented that storyline, leading the estate to reshoot and sanitize the film's approach to abuse claims.