Michael biopic grosses big, prompts hometown screening | JQJO

Gary, Indiana — Members of the Jackson family, the film's star Jaafar Jackson, producer Graham King and the singer's eldest son Prince attended a hometown screening of the new biopic Michael at the city's only high school. Mayor Eddie D. Melton moderated a panel in which they discussed the making of the film and the Jackson family legacy; Melton told CNN he did not think there was a need to address the sexual abuse allegations there, and called the film "phenomenal." He said the screening was a chance to celebrate Jackson's contributions and the impact of his music.

Los Angeles — Directed by Antoine Fuqua and due for release on April 24 after years of delays, Michael features Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Jackson's parents and stars Jaafar Jackson as the pop star. The production underwent major changes after Puck reported the original version addressed the 1993 molestation case but a roughly $25 million settlement barred the estate from mentioning that case; Variety sources said the estate paid $10 million to $15 million for reshoots. The estate has been involved from the start; its lawyer Marty Singer called a recent lawsuit a "desperate money grab," and a motion to move the case to arbitration was granted in March. Jackson, who died in 2009 at 50, maintained his innocence and was later acquitted of 2003 charges.