Two Major Michael Jackson Events Left Out of ‘Michael’ Timeline

Despite what initial reviews from critics have said, Michael Jackson’s biopic Michael, by all accounts, is a smash hit. Per Rolling Stone, the film is on track to break the “box office record for a musical biopic in its opening week.” 

Having seen it myself, I can personally attest to the fact that the project is nowhere near deserving of what the critics shared. In fact, it offers lots of enjoyable moments of nostalgia with several top Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson hits, and the performances from the actors in the film were great (Jaafar Jackson and Juliano Valdi were particularly exceptional). Now, I’ll admit, from a storyline perspective, Michael unfortunately lacks depth. But the movie is definitely worth seeing at least once from my vantage point, and it serves as a reminder that Michael is indeed the King of Pop. 

Speaking of storylines, the film has a very specific timeline for the “Thriller” entertainer, starting around the Jackson 5’s accession in the mid-1960s and stopping in 1988, during Michael’s Bad tour. That meant the biopic had a lot of ground to cover in its 2-hour and 10-minute runtime. But it wasn’t until I got home and scrolled through social media that I realized Michael didn’t touch on two pivotal points of his career that greatly impacted his life. 

‘Michael’ Doesn’t Talk about ‘The Wiz’ at All

Michael wasn’t a prolific motion picture actor, but his debut full-length film was 1978’s The Wiz, the soulful take on the classic film The Wizard of OZ. He starred as The Scarecrow alongside his good friend and superstar in her own right, Diana Ross, who portrayed Dorothy. But also attached to the project was the legendary producer Quincy Jones, who scored the movie and produced the soundtrack, and Jones would ultimately produce Michael’s albums Off the Wall and the iconic Thriller. Despite Jones and Michael having met previously, their collaboration on The Wiz led to their teaming up for Michael’s early solo projects. As described by Jones in the New York Post: 

“It was during The Wiz filming where I saw things in him that weren’t on the records. He had unbelievable focus and passion. I watched him. He knew everyone’s songs, he knew all their dance steps. His professionalism was astounding. It was then I decided to tell him I wanted to produce his album myself.”

Personally, I believe that the movie not depicting Michael’s time filming The Wiz was a missed opportunity. It could have given insight into how he felt trying to transition into the unfamiliar world of acting, which I imagine was a period of anxiety for him, considering he strived to achieve perfection. Perhaps more importantly, seeing him and Jones lay the groundwork for their fruitful working relationship would have been phenomenal to see onscreen. 

‘Michael’ Doesn’t Address The Beatles' Catalog of It All

The King of Pop was the greatest entertainer in music ever, but he also proved to be a shrewd businessman. Although he may have run into financial issues later in his career, his purchasing a bulk of The Beatles' catalog was a wise investment, and arguably the most significant purchase of his career. As the story goes, in 1985, Michael purchased ATV Music’s 4,000-song catalog for $47.5 million, which made him the owner of roughly 250 songs penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, in addition to tracks by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis, the Rolling Stones, and more. 

Although the deal was incredibly lucrative for Michael and later his estate, at the time of the purchase, McCartney was not happy, especially considering he believed Michael to be somewhat of a friend, given their collaboration on Thriller. It would have been quite captivating to see the thought process of Michael making such a bold move, and McCartney’s possible reaction in Michael.

All in all, while there is continued chatter that Michael will receive a sequel, I’m doubtful the powers that be will revisit The Wiz era or address his shrewd business move. There are more topics to discuss in a potential sequel, including all of the allegations he faced and his unfortunate death. So, moviegoers are likely left wondering about what could have been.

Related: Michael Jackson’s Close Celeb Friend Has a Strong Opinion about ‘Michael’ Movie