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Leaving Neverland
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Judge Tentatively Sides with Michael Jackson Estate in 'Leaving Neverland' Lawsuit
Now that the dust has settled on Leaving Neverland, director Dan Reed is ready to address one very important question: what next? In a new interview with The Film Stage, Reed discussed his controversial HBO documentary, which tells the story of two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who claim to have been sexually assaulted by Michael Jackson as boys. Reed said that while he is happy with the final product, he “would love to do” a Leaving Neverland sequel, particularly one that highlights Gavin Arvizo’s story and the 2005 “trial of Michael Jackson.”
When asked if he had any footage that was cut from the final film, Reed said that he “shot interviews with LAPD and Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department” officers, but they ultimately didn’t make it. “I had a great interview with the main prosecutor, the deputy DA from the 2005 trial,” he said. “We hadn’t put those in because I had a strong feeling it needed to remain a claustrophobic story about two families.” In an ideal world, that footage would become the jumping-off point for a sequel. “I would love to do that,” said Reed when asked about using the D.A. footage as a part of a sequel.
“The film I would really like to make following this one is the trial of Michael Jackson,” he continued. In 2005, Michael Jackson was tried for allegedly molesting Gavin Arvizo, a 13-year-old boy who visited Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. After a highly-publicized trial, Jackson was acquitted on all charges. According to Reed, he would only tell that story “if Gavin Arvizo and his family would agree to participate.” Said the director, “It would be a much weaker film [if they didn’t]. I don’t want to follow Leaving Neverland with a weaker film.”
Reed added that he “would very much like to tell the story of that trial,” particularly because he thinks it’s “fascinating and astonishing that Michael was acquitted” on all child abuse charges. “The way that happened is an amazing story and one that should be told,” he said. “But no, I’m not going to just carry on making Michael Jackson films, that’s not my thing. Like I said, this wasn’t a film about Michael Jackson.”
