Editing Michael (2025) (section)

== Production ==

===Pre-production===
In November 2019, it was announced that [[Graham King]] had secured the rights to produce a film about [[Michael Jackson]], with [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]] set to write the screenplay.<ref name="LoganNov2019" /> In February 2022, [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]] acquired the distribution rights.<ref name="Lionsgate2" /> Casting began in June, with Kimberly Hardin as the casting director. Production was expected to start in 2023.<ref name="BackstageJun2022" /> In January 2023, [[Antoine Fuqua]] was announced as the director,<ref name="FuquaJan2023" /> and Jackson's nephew [[Jaafar Jackson]] was announced to play Jackson.<ref name="JaafarJan2023" /> In January 2024, the newcomer Juliano Krue Valdi was cast as a young Michael,<ref name="KrueValdi" /> as well as [[Colman Domingo]] as [[Joe Jackson (talent manager)|Joe Jackson]],<ref name="Domingo" /> and [[Nia Long]] as [[Katherine Jackson]].<ref name="Long" /> Also that month, [[Miles Teller]] was reported to be in talks to play one of Jackson's attorneys.<ref name="TellerJan2024" /> In February, Teller was confirmed to play [[John Branca]].<ref name="TellerFeb2024" /> The cast for the rest of [[the Jackson 5]] were announced later that month,<ref name="Jackson5Cast" /> with [[Laura Harrier]], [[Kat Graham]], [[Larenz Tate]], [[Jessica Sula]], Liv Symone, [[Kevin Shinick]], KeiLyn Durrel Jones, and [[Kendrick Sampson]] being added to portray [[Suzanne de Passe]], [[Diana Ross]], [[Berry Gordy]], [[La Toya Jackson]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Dick Clark]], Bill Bray, and [[Quincy Jones]] in March.<ref name="Harrier" /><ref name="GrahamTate" /> In April 2024, [[Derek Luke]] was added to the cast as [[Johnnie Cochran]].<ref name="Luke" /> The screenplay includes content regarding [[Child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson|child sexual abuse accusations against Jackson]], with King saying that he wanted to "humanize but not sanitize and present the most compelling, unbiased story".<ref name="VarietyUnbiased" />
===Filming===
[[Principal photography]] was scheduled to begin in mid-2023 over 80 days in Santa Barbara and was projected to spend $120 million on crew wages and vendors, according to the [[California Film Commission]].<ref name="LATimesMar2023" /> Filming was delayed in September 2023 due to the [[2023 SAG-AFTRA strike]].<ref name="FilmingDelay" /> Filming eventually began on January 22, 2024,<ref name="ReleaseDate" /> with [[Dion Beebe]] serving as the cinematographer. [[Barbara Ling]] serves as the production designer, and [[Marci Rodgers]] as the costume designer.<ref name="Crew" />