Controversial Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland ‘already has sequel in the works’
CONTROVERSIAL Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland 'already has a sequel in the works'.
Leaving Neverland was released last year and follows Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two men who accused the late singer of sexually abusing them when they were young boys.
Their claims have always been denied by the Jackson family, but now reports Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed is working on a sequel as he follows Wade and James' legal action against his legacy companies MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures.
James' case has since been dismissed while filmmaker Dan has been shooting at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Deadline also reports Dan and his production company Amos Pictures have been served with subpoenas ‘demanding that he personally appear for deposition and hand over documents and materials related to Leaving Neverland and the sequel’.
However Dan is taking action with the support of Louisa Compton, head of news and current affairs and Channel 4 - which made Leaving Neverland alongside HBO - to have the subpoenas quashed.
Louisa told Deadline: "At Channel 4 we have a robust record of defending freedom of expression.
"We routinely oppose those who seek orders for journalists to hand over unbroadcast and other journalistic material, grateful for the strong legal protections that exist to protect journalists in the UK and the US."
After the release of Finding Neverland last year, the Jackson family issued a statement defending the King of Pop, who died in 2009.
They said: "We are extremely sympathetic to any legitimate victim of child abuse. This film, however, does those victims a disservice.
Most read in News TV
"Because despite all the disingenuous denials made that this is not about money, it has always been about money – millions of dollars — dating back to 2013 when both Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who share the same law firm, launched their unsuccessful claims against Michael’s Estate.
"Now that Michael is no longer here to defend himself, Robson, Safechuck and their lawyers continue their efforts to achieve notoriety and a payday by smearing him with the same allegations a jury found him innocent of when he was alive."