The biopic ‘Michael,’ about Michael Jackson, will receive over $21 million in California tax credits, according to the state’s film commission.
According to reports, the California Film Commission announced the latest round of credit allocations, totalling $81.7 million for 24 projects. According to the commission, ‘Michael’ will generate $120 million in “qualified” in-state spending, which is more than any other project in the tax credit program’s 14-year history.
The film was announced in January, with Jackson’s nephew Jaafar playing the lead. The executors of the Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain, are producing alongside Graham King.
According to reports, the project has sparked controversy. Dan Reed, the director of ‘Leaving Neverland,’ the documentary that accused Jackson of sxually assaulting two young boys, slammed the new film in a Guardian column, saying it will “glorify a man who rped children.”
The state film commission also announced that ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ will receive $13.8 million, and an untitled Disney live-action film will receive $11.3 million. ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ had been awarded $19.6 million last August, but subsequently withdrew that request and reapplied.
The $21.1 million awarded to ‘Michael’ is one of the state’s largest credit allocations ever. California has previously given $22.3 million to ‘Bumblebee’, $21.8 million to ‘Space Jam 2’ and $21.4 million to ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. Only the first $100 million in “qualified” in-state spending is eligible for the state’s 20% tax credit.
