Leaving Neverland Sequel Coming to Channel 4

Leaving Neverland Sequel

Feb 21, 2025

Dan Reed's documentary Leaving Neverland is officially set to receive a sequel. The follow-up film, titled “Surviving Michael Jackson,” is expected to be about an hour long and is slated to debut on the U.K.’s Channel 4 on March 18, according to various sources. This sequel aims to catch up with Wade Robson and James Safechuck in their ongoing battle to seek justice after publicly accusing Jackson of sexual abuse in 2013 and 2014.

Notably, HBO, which held exclusive rights to U.S. broadcasting for the two-part 2019 documentary, will not be airing this follow-up. Following the release of Leaving Neverland, the Michael Jackson estate took legal action against HBO's parent company, WarnerMedia, alleging that the network violated a 27-year-old non-disparagement clause related to a concert from Jackson's "Dangerous" tour in 1992. Despite some false reports about HBO losing the legal battle, there have been no meaningful updates in several years.

HBO has aired Dan Reed's recent documentaries, including "The Truth vs. Alex Jones" and "Stopping the Steal," both released in 2024, but it appears that avoiding involvement in this latest project may be a sensible decision given the unresolved legal issues. It wouldn't surprise me that the Jackson estate, which aggressively pushed back against the original documentary, deliberately stalled proceedings, thereby preventing HBO from airing any follow-up and limiting its exposure in the United States, though it could still find a home on a rival network.

Update: Leaving Neverland 2 will be available to North American viewers via Real Stories YouTube channel.

Leaving Neverland 2 will focus on the personal toll endured by Robson and Safechuck since coming forward with their allegations against Jackson. The two continue to face significant backlash from Jackson's fanbase as they pursue justice. With promises of “exclusive access to court hearings,” the film intends to illuminate “the extent to which the Jackson estate has fought to prevent James and Wade from having their day in court.”

There will also be a 3rd and final instalment of Leaving Neverland, which will cover the trial itself, though this isn't expected to begin until at least late 2026, or later.

Michael Jackson was first accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 by Jordan Chandler, leading to an out-of-court settlement reportedly exceeding $20 million. In 2003, Jackson faced further allegations from Gavin Arvizo, which culminated in a highly publicized trial in 2005, where he was acquitted due to reasonable doubt.

Leaving Neverland 2 is produced by Reed through his production company, Amos Pictures, with Marguerite Gaudin as the producer. The editing team includes Peter Haddon and Ben Hills, with Iris Maor serving as head of production. Adam Vandermark is the Channel 4 commissioner, while Sphere Abacus is responsible for international sales.

The original Leaving Neverland documentary garnered critical acclaim, winning an Emmy for best documentary or nonfiction special and a BAFTA TV award for best factual series, underscoring its significant impact on public discourse.

As the release date approaches, one crucial question looms: What kind of reaction will the Jackson estate and fans muster this time? Will social media be inundated with misinformation and hate filled posts, similar to the original film? Or will they opt for a more subdued response, understanding that their previous extreme behaviours only heightened interest in the documentary?

I guess time will tell.

You can watch the 4 hour version of Leaving Neverland on YouTube, though you may need to use a VPN if you live in either the UK or USA.