Legal Issues Force Diana Ross Cut from Michael Biopic
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- Kat Graham confirmed on social media Thursday that her portrayal of Diana Ross was cut from "Michael," citing "certain legal considerations" that affected "a few scenes" she filmed with the cast.
- "Michael" underwent major reshoots after its third act was deemed unusable because producers discovered a settlement clause from a 1993 child sexual abuse lawsuit — which Jackson denied — that barred depicting or mentioning the accuser in film or television.
- Graham's scenes were likely eliminated as a result of those creative changes; Janet Jackson is also absent from the film, though no explanation was given for her exclusion.
- Antoine Fuqua directs "Michael," which stars Jaafar Jackson (Michael's real-life nephew) as the King of Pop, Colman Domingo as father Joe Jackson, and Nia Long as mother Katherine Jackson.
- The cast also includes Miles Teller as manager John Branca, Laura Harrier as Motown creative assistant Suzanne De Passe, Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, and Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy.
- "Michael" is projected to gross at least $70 million domestically and $150 million globally in its opening weekend, which would mark the largest debut ever for a musical biopic and Lionsgate's biggest hit in more than a decade.
Why it matters: The cuts highlight how a 30-year-old legal settlement is still shaping what can be shown about Michael Jackson's life on screen, forcing Lionsgate to restructure its third act. For the studio, the film still carries blockbuster-sized expectations — a $150 million global debut would be its largest musical biopic opening ever and a major win for Lionsgate heading into the weekend.
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