The new Michael Jackson biopic Michael is facing strong criticism for leaving out the singer’s child abuse allegations. Actor Colman Domingo, who plays father Joe Jackson in the film, is now responding to the backlash. He is also sharing the possibility of a second movie that could cover the controversial years.
The movie covers Jackson’s life from the 1960s up to 1988. It ends right before the first public allegations surfaced in 1993. Producers had to reshoot major parts of the film after lawyers discovered a legal clause from a past settlement that blocked them from showing or mentioning one of the accusers. These reshoots reportedly added nearly $15 million to the budget.
Domingo Defends Film’s Timeline on ‘Today’ Show
During an appearance on the Today show on April 22, 2026, host Craig Melvin directly asked Domingo about the “whitewashing” criticism. He asked how Domingo feels about people who say the movie ignores serious accusations.
“The film takes place from the ’60s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations. We center it on the makings of Michael. It’s an intimate portrait of who Michael is. Through his eyes, truly. So that’s what it is. So that’s what this film is.”
Domingo explained that the story focuses strictly on how Michael became an artist and his relationship with his father during his rise to fame. The current version of the movie ends during the Bad tour era, five years before the Chandler claims.
The Possibility of a Part Two
Domingo did not shut the door on the controversial chapters of Jackson’s life. He told the show’s hosts that a sequel could happen if the first movie does well.
“And there’s a possibility of there being a Part Two, that may deal with some other things that happened afterwards. This is about the making of Michael, how he was raised, and then how he was trying to find his voice as an artist and be a solo artist. There could be a sequel. We don’t know yet.”
Producer Graham King explained that the legal issues were a surprise to the team. They found out about the settlement restrictions after finishing the initial shoot. This forced them to change the third act of the movie completely.
The Hard Road to Making the Film
Domingo recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the difficult production process. He admitted that the shoot was very hard due to the constant changes.
“This was not an easy shoot, I will not shy away from that,” Domingo said.
Because of the rewrites, Domingo’s role as Joe Jackson became much bigger than originally planned. The story shifted to focus more on the difficult relationship between father and son. Domingo wore heavy prosthetics and special contacts to transform into the strict family patriarch.
Protecting Young Actors Jaafar and Juliano
On The Jennifer Hudson Show on April 22, Domingo talked about working with Jaafar Jackson (Michael’s real-life nephew) and Juliano Valdi (who plays young Michael). Domingo said he felt very protective of them on set.
“Literally the moment I went out there, I felt very protective because I saw such a high level of talent and heart,” Domingo said.
Jaafar shared that he received private notes from Michael’s personal journals to prepare for the role. Juliano noted that he was surprised by how hard Michael worked, even as a child. During the same interview, Domingo showed off his own attempt at the moonwalk, which got a big reaction from the audience.
The Controversy with Paris Jackson
The film also faced heat from Michael’s own daughter, Paris Jackson. Back in September 2025, Domingo told a magazine that Paris and her brother Prince were supportive of the film. Paris quickly denied this on Instagram.
“Don’t be telling people I was ‘helpful’ on the set of a movie I had 0% involvement in lol. That is so weird. I read one of the first drafts of the script and gave my notes about what was dishonest and didn’t sit right with me and when they didn’t address it I moved on with my life.”
Domingo later clarified that his words were taken out of context. He told The Wall Street Journal that the original article was updated to fix the mistake. He also said he messaged Paris directly to explain. “I hope that she eventually loves the tribute that we made about her father,” Domingo said.
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Critical Reviews and Box Office Performance
The movie premiered in Los Angeles on April 20, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre. It had limited early access screenings starting April 22, followed by a nationwide release on April 24.
Despite the controversy, Michael has done very well at the box office. It recently became the second highest-grossing biopic of all time. However, critical reviews remain mixed. Some critics argue that ending the story in 1988 is misleading. WBUR critic Sean Burns wrote that cutting the film off there “is kind of like ending an O.J. Simpson biopic with him winning the Heisman Trophy.”
Director Antoine Fuqua told The New Yorker that he has doubts about some of the accusations. “When I hear things about us — Black people in particular, especially in a certain position — there’s always pause,” Fuqua said. He added that while he does not know the truth, “Sometimes people do some nasty things for some money.”
The cast includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as lawyer John Branca, and Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe. The movie is currently playing in theaters worldwide.
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