On the Lot: The Michael Jackson legacy war

On the Lot: The Michael Jackson legacy war Also in this issue: Inside "The AI Doc." Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson and "Michael" director Antoine Fuqua. Glen Wilson / Lionsgate / Glen Wilson/Lionsgate Share Add NBC News to Google March 27, 2026, 3:01 PM EDT By Rebecca Keegan Welcome back to ON THE LOT . In today’s edition: Paris Jackson’s fight with the producers of the Michael Jackson movie, former “Bachelor” producer Michael Carroll and contestant Kelley Flanagan on the Taylor Frankie Paul fallout, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser ‘s probe of the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal, directors Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell on keeping it real in the age of AI, and this week’s recommendations from industry insiders. Got tips (on Stephen Colbert’ s “Lord of the Rings” movie or Bob Iger’ s finsta )? You can reach me at rebecca.keegan@nbcuni.com or on Signal at thatrebecca.82. WANNA BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’ The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael,” was intended to reclaim the troubled pop star’s legacy for his fans and make some money for his family. The film comes as the Jackson estate has repeatedly denied child abuse accusations against the late star over the years. But a month before “Michael” finally hits theaters, the movie’s producers and co-executors of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain , are mired in an ugly legal fight with Jackson’s own kids. The estate has been in probate for a stunning 17 years since Jackson died in 2009, leaving behind his three children, Prince , now 29, Paris , 27, and Bigi (formerly Blanket), 24. In recent legal filings, Paris Jackson has raised questions about the movie, which underwent costly reshoots in 2025, and said she wants more transparency and timelier accounting from Branca and McClain. Paris had previously distanced herself from “Michael,” calling the film “sugar-coated” and “dishonest” in her Instagram stories last September. “Michael,” which is directe...