Dan Reed’s Leaving Neverland 2 continues the story of Wade Robson and James Safechuck as they pursue legal action against Michael Jackson’s estate. The documentary follows their attempts to bring the case to trial, shedding light on the challenges they have faced in the legal system.
The sequel documents their efforts to hold Jackson’s companies accountable, arguing that they failed to protect them from alleged abuse. The case has moved through the courts for over a decade, with a California appeals court ruling in 2023 that their lawsuit could proceed to trial next year. Robson, expressing frustration over the delays, states, “I want my day in court.”
Reed, who spent years filming in their homes and at court proceedings, believes that the legal process reinforces the credibility of their claims. “I wanted to show how difficult and exhausting it is to try and get justice in the court system,” he says. He dismisses the idea that Robson and Safechuck are motivated by financial gain, noting that others who reached settlements with the Jackson estate received significant payouts while they have pursued litigation instead.
Unlike the first Leaving Neverland, HBO did not return as a production partner for the sequel. The decision is believed to be connected to Warner Bros. Discovery’s legal disputes with the Jackson estate. Reed describes HBO’s departure as disappointing but remains open to collaborating with the network in the future. Leaving Neverland 2 will premiere in North America on Real Stories, a documentary channel on YouTube, after an initial broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK on March 18.
Reed criticizes major streaming platforms for becoming more cautious when handling controversial documentary subjects. He argues that services like Netflix and Apple have leaned toward safer content, favoring true-crime projects and scripted adaptations over investigative work that might provoke strong reactions. Other filmmakers, including Ezra Edelman, have voiced similar concerns about streaming platforms avoiding difficult topics.
Reed has also been vocal about his objections to Lionsgate’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua. He claims that an early version of the script attempted to dismiss accusations against Jackson but had to be revised after legal complications regarding dramatizing certain events. “What a massive mistake,” Reed says, questioning whether the film can meet its planned October release date given the need for reshoots.
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Looking ahead, Reed is already considering a third installment of Leaving Neverland to document Robson and Safechuck’s trial. Whether cameras will be allowed inside the courtroom remains uncertain. “That’s a big question, will the judge allow filming?” Reed says. “And it’s really the judge’s discretion.”
Reed remains committed to presenting both sides of the story, stating that he offered the Jackson estate opportunities to respond to the allegations but received no cooperation. He includes an exchange in Leaving Neverland 2 showing an attorney for the estate dismissing his request for participation.
The documentary’s release is expected to bring renewed debate over Jackson’s legacy. Reed anticipates backlash from the singer’s supporters, as was the case with the original film. He argues that maintaining transparency in his methods is essential to ensuring the integrity of his work. “Being transparent and establishing the credibility of our methods becomes absolutely vital if we’re going to survive as a place that people look to for truth,” he says.
