All articles tagged with #antoine fuqua
Netflix has halted pre-production on its untitled Hannibal epic starring Denzel Washington and directed by Antoine Fuqua to sort out the budget; production was planned to shoot in Italy later this year, and both sides are working to get the project back on track.
Spike Lee defended Lionsgate’s Michael biopic for not including the 1993 child-sexual-abuse claims, arguing the film’s timeline ends in 1988 and cannot incorporate later accusations; director Antoine Fuqua says any exploration of the allegations will come in a potential sequel, noting the film was revised with additional shooting to shape the ending and that Lionsgate has discussed splitting the project into two parts as the Michael Jackson story extends beyond the current film.
Lionsgate's Michael, a Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua, opened to about $97.2 million domestic and $121.6 million internationally for a global debut around $218.8 million, signaling a new precedent for biopics. The film benefits from Jackson's worldwide appeal, strong audience reaction (97% positive), and an A- CinemaScore, even as critics were mixed and controversy drew extra publicity.
The Michael Jackson biopic Michael is posting blockbuster box office numbers (reported around $217 million), underscoring a clear split between fans who want a hit-filled celebration and critics seeking more nuance. The film’s performance serves as a tentpole springboard for the summer slate, suggesting that fan demand can drive high grosses even as critical reception remains mixed.
Dan Reed, director of Leaving Neverland, argues that the Michael Jackson biopic Michael whitewashes Jackson’s alleged abuse and centers the pop icon as the victim, rather than Wade Robson and James Safechuck’s accounts. He defends his documentary’s focus on the accusers, discusses HBO’s removal of Leaving Neverland amid a dispute with the estate, and notes ongoing legal battles and a potential trial in 2026. Reed also cites online bot activity surrounding the film, the public reaction, and support from Oprah, framing the controversy as a fight to have the victims’ stories heard.
Director Antoine Fuqua faced legal constraints that forced major reshoots and a late-stage shift in the Michael Jackson biopic, mirroring the disruption he endured finishing Emancipation after the Will Smith–Chris Rock incident; the film pivoted to focus on Michael’s early life and ultimately opened strongly at the box office.
The Michael Jackson biopic Michael opened to a record $97.2 million domestic and $121.6 million overseas, for a global launch of about $218.8 million—the biggest domestic bow for any biopic and the top worldwide opening for a music biopic. The film benefited from broad audience appeal and strong word-of-mouth despite mixed reviews, and comes with a reported $200 million budget; Universal handles international release (with Japan absent from the rollout) after production delays tied to abuse-allegation concerns.
The Michael Jackson biopic Michael opened to strong box office, and director Antoine Fuqua says there is footage amounting to about a third of the film that could be used for a sequel. He explains the abuse accusations aren’t depicted in the first film due to a settlement clause, and says the aim was to humanize Michael while laying groundwork for a potential second film that could address later years and the allegations. Fuqua would like to direct the sequel if schedules permit.
Director Antoine Fuqua says there’s “absolutely” enough filmed material—about a third of it—to support a Michael Jackson biopic sequel, and he’d like to direct it. The film humanizes Jackson and leaves out the Chandler abuse allegations due to a settlement, with extensive reshoots shaping a setup for a possible second installment after the movie’s record-breaking opening.
Bloomberg reports that the Michael Jackson biopic’s director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King received a combined $25 million in extra pay after scenes referencing the 1993 child-abuse allegations were cut and re-shot, a change tied to a settlement clause restricting mentions of Jordan Chandler; the adjusted budget and reshoots reportedly affected other projects and box-office considerations.
Antoine Fuqua explains his humanizing approach to Michael Jackson in the biopic Michael, revealing that the finale was rewritten after Jordan Chandler’s settlement, prompting roughly $50 million in reshoots and lifting production costs to about $200 million. He details Jaafar Jackson’s casting, discusses the film’s handling of the controversy, and signals interest in a potential sequel, as the movie opened to about $97 million in the U.S. and $217 million worldwide.
Antoine Fuqua reportedly more than doubled his upfront pay for the Michael Jackson biopic, rising from $10 million to about $25 million after agreeing to 22 days of reshoots to remove references to sexual-abuse allegations. Bloomberg and THR say the reshoots were advances against royalties within the film’s $150 million budget, delaying other projects for Fuqua and producer Graham King and ultimately yielding a sizable immediate payday despite a difficult creative process.
Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson biopic Michael opened at No. 1 with $39.9 million on Friday after $12.6 million in previews, signaling a potential record-setting weekend; The Super Mario Galaxy Movie held No. 2, followed by Project Hail Mary at No. 3, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy at No. 4, and The Drama at No. 5. The all-time weekend record for a music biopic remains Straight Outta Compton with $60.2 million (2015). Jaafar Jackson stars as Michael.
Lionsgate’s Michael, a Michael Jackson biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua, opened previews to about $12.6 million (including $3.8 million from fan IMAX/PLF screenings), with early tracking showing strong audience enthusiasm (5-star Early PostTrak, 88% positive, 81% definite recommend); CinemaScore for previews is A-, and the Rotten Tomatoes audience score sits at 96%. The film is playing in 3,955 domestic locations (1,700 of them IMAX/PLF), signaling solid legs for a musical biopic and potential follow-up.
Questlove praises Antoine Fuqua’s Michael biopic for stripping away spectacle to reveal MJ as a person and capturing his soul, even though he initially flagged timeline missteps (years and outfits) before putting the notes aside. The film follows MJ from the Jackson 5 era through the Bad period, with Jaafar Jackson starring, and a supporting cast including Kat Graham, Miles Teller, Colman Domingo, Nia Long and Kendrick Sampson. It opens in U.S. theaters on April 24.