Colman Domingo says the Michael Jackson biopic is going to transcend a simple narrative structure. On Sunday, the Oscar nominee, 54, spoke with ET's Deidre Behar from the 2024 BET Awards , where he shut down criticisms of Michael . The film -- which stars Michael's own nephew, Jaafar Jackson , as the "Bad" singer and Domingo as Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson -- releases in 2025.
"Michael Jackson is undeniably one of the most prolific artists that has ever been on this planet," Domingo shared. "He's a complicated human being and I think what the film will do is tell the story of a very complicated person." Among the main talking points argued by critics of the biographical film is Michael's history with sexual abuse allegations.
While the singer's lawyers and his estate have denied wrongdoing both before his June 2009 death and after, detractors -- including the director of a documentary examining the allegations -- have called the film "disingenuous" and said that the script "wants very much to convince you Michael is innocent," Variety reports. Studio execs have repeatedly denied the film will cleanse Michael's true story, sharing via press releases that the movie intends to be a "riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man. It will follow a "undeniable creative genius," as well as his "human side and personal struggles.
" As far as Domingo is concerned, he says he's focused on the art and bringing the best project to the fans -- even if that mean.
