Why Was Diana Ross Removed from the Michael Jackson Biopic? Legal Reasons Explained
Michael, the biopic of the King of Pop starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson and directed by Antoine Fuqua, is now in theaters. Kat Graham, the actress who played Diana Ross in the film, a legendary singer from The Supremes and a figure closely linked to Jackson's personal and artistic life, has revealed that her scenes were removed from the final cut due to "certain legal considerations."
TL;DR
- Kat Graham's scenes as Diana Ross were removed from the final cut of the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' due to "certain legal considerations."
- The film underwent a $15 million restructuring to remove references to Jordan Chandler, the accuser in a 1993 sexual abuse case.
- A contractual clause in a settlement prevented the depiction or mention of Chandler, forcing the removal of original narrative elements and police raid sequences.
- The restructured film's dramatic focus has shifted to the family tension between Michael Jackson and his father, Joe Jackson.
- Despite the significant rewrites, 'Michael' is projected for a strong box office opening, potentially reaching $70 million in North America and $150 million worldwide.
- These box office projections could make 'Michael' the best opening for a musical biopic and Lionsgate's biggest success in over a decade.