In the film’s original script, he stares at his reflection in the mirror, capturing a sorrowful gaze as police cars are behind him. It’s 1993, a decade after the success of “Thriller,” and Jackson is accused of child molestation. But the sequence with investigators arriving at Neverland Ranch to search for evidence was left on the cutting room floor.

The filmmakers had to come up with a new ending.

The process was further delayed after the house of screenwriter John Logan was damaged in the Palisades fire.

As a result, “Michael,” which had been scheduled to land in theaters on April 18, 2025, was delayed to October 3 before moving a final time to spring 2026.

Last June, the cast reassembled for 22 days of additional shooting of the new third act. Production, which had primarily taken place in Santa Barbara, restarted in Los Angeles but didn’t qualify for state tax rebates. That added $10 to $15 million to the budget. (“Michael” was greenlit for $155 million.) The Jackson estate covered the extra costs because its error necessitated the changes.