A Compilation Of All The Cut Content From The 'Michael' Movie And What To Expect For Part 2

[ChanceToDance]

Lately we've been learning more and more about scenes that were cut from the movie so I decided to make a separate thread in order to keep up with those (and for the people who wouldn't like to be spoiled in the main biopic thread). Someone on Twitter already made a thread of this but I'll be adding stuff that was left out and I'll be adding updates as more info comes along.

First off we'll begin with the image that started it all, Jaafar Jackson performing "Man In The Mirror" on the Dangerous Tour

Siedah Garret shared a behind the scenes image of that performance which was quickly deleted, there we can see a frame of Jaafar wearing that same outfit

Another of the first set leaks we got was of MJ and Katherine, accompanied by Bill Bray, going door to door preaching the word of Jehovah. We see Michael wearing that same outfit in the film when he and Katherine are watching Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times

On March 26th, 2024 a scene was shot of what appears to be Off The Wall era Michael driving a car while accompanied by a woman

On that same day we see that 'Toys R Us' was rebuilt for the movie. Although we see Michael at a toy store in the film it turns out that it's not 'Toys R Us'

On April 10th, 2024 a teaser of "Michael" was shown at Cinemacon 2024, it's described to have scenes which were left out from the movie

The footage covers all of the iconic eras from Jackson’s career, starting with his humble beginnings in The Jackson 5 with the hit song ‘ABC’ playing in the background. We then see a montage that goes from the Jackson 5 performing on television to Michael Jackson in his ‘Thriller’ era. We see Michael’s iconic white socks and black shoes as he’s dancing while singing ‘Bad’. Fans will be excited to know Jaafar Jackson sounds just like his uncle, nailing all the vocal cadences, when delivering dialogue.

Michael Jackson is then shown, in the late stages of his career after one of his accidents, with visible pale skin, long curly hair, a black fedora, face mask, and sunglasses getting flanked by security. He’s walking towards a car while a crazy crowd of rabid fans and paparazzi scream to get a photo, with some people even jumping on his car to get a glimpse at him. Cut back to his youth when Michael’s mom tells him, as she’s wiping a tear off his face, “You were never like everyone else.” We then get a close-up of Michael’s fingers snapping, performing ‘Man in the Mirror’ to a massive concert crowd. We also get quick shots of a young Michael signing thriller records with his short hair and iconic red jacket.


Then there’s a glimpse of Michael with his face wrapped up in gauze on a stretcher being led into a hospital — assuming this is the big Pepsi commercial incident. The trailer directly confirms that this biopic will address “the controversy” of Jackson’s career. The next image is of Michael on a balcony, which could be the baby dangling incident. There’s a quick shot of Michael sitting at a piano and taking a pill. We see quick glimpses of Nia Long and Coleman Domingo as Michael’s parents in his youth. The trailer ends with a shot of Michael in the white shirt/black pants combo performing in front of hundreds of fans. Jaafar Jackson nails all of the dancing in the footage shown and is seen in various layers of makeup as the film traverses the different stages of Michael’s life.

Someone claims that the scene of MJ taking pills at his piano is from the 'Invincible' era

Later on we see that the Neverland Ranch was reconstructed for the biopic

On April 25th, 2026 an image was shared of Jaafar Jackson at Neverland

The Neverland Ranch Police Raid was recreated for the biopic, which would've been a central part of the movie

On March 2024 a draft of the script was detailed by Matthew Belloni, confirming that the movie kicks off diving straight into the 1993 allegations

The Michael script opens with Jackson staring out from his Neverland bedroom as the police arrive to strip search him, part of the 1993 investigation into statements about Jackson’s anatomy made by Jordan Chandler, the 13-year-old boy whose molestation claim led to the first legal circus and an eventual $20 million settlement. The script then goes to great lengths to minimize and downplay the actual claims and eviscerate the Chandlers, including that infamous recorded phone call where Jordan’s father says his real goal is to destroy his ex-wife and Jackson’s career, and the well-being of his son is “irrelevant to me.”

There’s Branca (Miles Teller) and Johnnie Cochran discussing the claims as an “extortion” attempt. There’s also a lengthy and pretty grueling scene of Jackson actually being strip searched and photographed totally naked while surrounded by cops and lawyers. “This assault, this scorching trauma, will shake him to the core and never leave him,”

The script describes Jackson as “uniquely comfortable around kids,” and at one point, Branca says, “It’s not the kids I’m worried about, it’s the parents. He’s opening his door to tons of people we don’t know. And there’s a lot of greedy people in the world.” Later, Michael laments to his lawyers, “I tell the truth—and it doesn’t matter. I’ve been around kids my whole life, but now they’ve turned it into something ugly.”

On January 24th, 2025 it was announced that the third act of the biopic had to be scrapped due to a legal issue.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882702386369556957

Later on it was also revealed they recorded 1 hour and 45 minutes of Jaafar's performances alone

Meanwhile, King is pushing hard to split the project into two movies. I’m told there’s about an hour and 45 minutes of performances alone starring Jaafar Jackson, Jackson’s nephew, and King thinks the footage and M.J.’s life story is sufficiently cinematic to justify a two-part big-screen, global event.

On November 6th, 2025 the first teaser of the movie was finally revealed to the public, in it we can tell there are scenes that were either changed or didn't make the cut, such as Michael deciding the tracklist of the 'Thriller' album, and 'Man In The Mirror' being performed on the Bad Tour (only the 'Bad' song is seen being performed in the film)

A performance of 'Heartbreak Hotel' was also cut from the movie, though the song is played during the credits

During the first featurette we saw, where Antoine and Graham talk about finding Jaafar, at a certain moment on a monitor we see American Bandstand host Dick Clark, portrayed by Kevin Shinick, sitting in the crowd.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048120267952549928

On another featurette we see Jaafar wearing an outfit that's absent in the film

On February 2026 Colman Domingo posted a set photo and in it we could see a collage of Jaafar/Juliano, we can see outfits from 'The Wiz', 'Come Together', 'Jam', 'Another Part Of Me', etc.

Another thing that didn't make the cut was the rehearsal of Motown 25

More scenes from Triumph were also cut

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048098663759503422

Another scene that didn't make the cut

A particular scene, brilliantly played by Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, promises to deeply touch the hearts of fans. In this scene, Jaafar captures a side of the King of Pop that few know but that fans will instantly recognize. It is a time of vulnerability and authenticity that will allow viewers to identify with the true essence of Michael.”

In one of the scenes, “Michael is shown taking the time to admire the beauty of heaven and express gratitude for the little things of everyday life. Meanwhile, other people observe him as if he were an (alien), someone who has never experienced such ordinary moments.

MJ Beats | Tudo sobre Michael Jackson

Notícias, histórias e análises sobre Michael Jackson.

mjbeats.com.br

An alternate scene of MJ talking to La-Toya after his first plastic surgery which is described as being more emotional than the final cut

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048077299430424576

On April 23th, 2026 Kat Graham (the actress of Diana Ross) revealed that her scenes had to be cut due to another legal issue, which meant scenes from 'The Wiz', 'Studio 54', and possibly others had to be pulled from the film

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047285567541416132

 

[ChanceToDance]

(Continuation)

After that photos from the behind the scenes of the 'Studio 54' scenes was shared

Better look at the 'Another Part Of Me' outfit

Another scene from 'Thriller' suggesting that they recreated the whole clip

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048114826191556937

A view of the crowd from a scene of the Dangerous Tour. Interestingly enough you can see someone holding an image of the cover from the HIStory album

https://twitter.com/x/status/2048353214718705713

 

[JEMFTV]

I don't believe that they shot his whole life

 

[Xscape2040]

From reports like Michael Prince it always was until early 90ies.I hope they can expand that for a part 2 at least until history tour, then relatively brief scenes of invincible, msg, focus on family, and struggle after showing the trial details leading up to tii, with real footage at the end.
It seems there where a lot of scenes who could flesh out things a bit more in part 1.
I hope they can be repurposed for flashback scenes, for example studio sessions history and Michael thinking also about the good old times, flashback to older studio sessions).
I also think quite a lot of thriller was cut, including Michael eating Popcorn

 

[RodSerling]

It looks like the first movie could have run like 3hours ( stopping at Bad. The MITM performance could well open the second movie).
While I could understand some scenes were cut because Diana Ross didn't want to be in the movie, It made no sense to cut the Motown 25 rehearsals and Heartbreak Hotel performance. I hope we could get at least a longer cut theatrically released.

 

[RodSerling]

The plan is surely now to do 3 movies.
The second movie will end with the accusations.
The third would be a Godfather 2 type, MJ facing his trial in the 2000's intersped with scenes from his youth.
That would be the only way to make It bankable and use those 70s/80s scenes shot.

 

[michaeljackson.nl]

reading this, what could have been. I really enjoyed the movie, but this would’ve been a deep, emotional and epic movie. Really hope part 2 goes the same route

 

[LivXapplehead]

I do think tehy are gonna make 3 movies in tital, just cause the alæegations and the 30s-40 and 50s of mikes life is really big and would needed to be RUSHED so mich if it should all fill in one movie. But im scared if they make 3, cause hoe the hell would someone be able to get through the this is it and his last part of his life?

 

[Hot_Street]

How far should Part 2 go? Up to HIStory or up to the acquittal? Both would be like a happy ending.
In part 2 everything becomes harder and darker, the press becomes more unpleasant, the accusations increase, painkillers and narcotics are used more frequently and vitiligo worsens.

 

[Xscape2040]

It should be only 2 parts imo telling all of the remaining story if we really get part 2 in at least 3 hours. The risk is too high it will never get finished otherwise.
Once they know whats in part 2, release a directors cut of part 1 to cinemas shortly before we get 2 ( also as double feature).
I think they should go as far as they possibly can storywise

 

[LivXapplehead]

But it could also be a good idea to make a part 2 only, cause then we are sure to get a finished last half. And also, hoe sick would it be if the part go then was called “Jackson”?!

 

[Hot_Street]

But it could also be a good idea to make a part 2 only, cause then we are sure to get a finished last half. And also, hoe sick would it be if the part go then was called “Jackson”?!

2nd part: Joseph
3rd part: Jackson

 

[LivXapplehead]

2nd part: Joseph
3rd part: Jackson

Ooooo that could also be EPIC! Well then idc if they make a 2 or 3 parts as long as they are willing to get the most important stuff in, then im fineeee

 

[Hot_Street]

Part 2 can also cover September 11th and its effect on INVINCIBLE.

Were you expecting to go on a potential Invincible Tour?
Michael Durham Prince: We did the two shows in Madison Square Garden, and after the second show, we were riding in a van, to our hotel, with Brad and with Michael Bush. Michael Bush said, “Michael said that everybody should expect a phone call in the next two weeks because we’re going to go on tour.” We were all really excited to hear that because it meant a lot of work and joy, and Michael would go on a world tour again and take it to his fans. But what happened the next morning was 9/11… and everything changed. Michael would have probably gone to Europe first, but Europe seemed like the most dangerous place to be since we didn’t know who was responsible yet. So, we still kept hoping, but if you look back to early 2002, everybody artist canceled their world tours. Just like with COVID. There was still some touring going on in America but Michael liked touring the world. I don’t know if he was more popular in Europe but he thought, “Well, if I had a choice of touring in America or Europe, I would always pick Europe.” In America, to us, every city is the same. I mean, it’s a beautiful country, but to me, Europe is much more fascinating. Anyway, sadly that tour never happened.​

Michael Durham Prince - BRICE NAJAR

Michael Durham Prince is a sound engineer who worked with Michael Jackson from 1995 to 2009. After he worked on the HIStory Tour, he became one of his closest collaborators in the 2000s, and became friends with Brad Buxer. Following the first two editions of the MJ MusicDay, we are happy to...

www.bricenajar.com

 

[ChanceToDance]

I recall Colman Domingo saying that the biopic was gonna cover the "early aughts" so maybe the scene of MJ taking pills on the piano really was from the "Invincible" era. Graham King said also that he wants Part 2 to focus on "Dangerous" and "Invincible"

King hopes to turn “Michael” into a two-part story. Lionsgate and Universal (which is overseeing international distribution) believe there’s enough material for at least one more movie. The studios suggest roughly 30% of the material that was jettisoned from “Michael” could be reconstituted for potential sequels. It’s unclear how future films would handle the legal battles and abuse allegations that consumed much of Jackson’s final years. King has told the studios he would focus on the singer’s later albums, including 1991’s “Dangerous” and 2001’s “Invincible,” the purchase and construction of Neverland Ranch, as well as “his love of animals.”