Leaving Neverland Director Wants To Make A New Michael Jackson Documentary

It was a harrowing and divisive watch the first time round, but the creator of recent Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland is already thinking about his next film.

Director Dan Reed has revealed that he's hoping to make a new documentary that takes another look at the singer's trial.

Leaving Neverland goes into graphic detail about the sexual abuse James Safechuck and Wade Robson claim to have suffered as children at the hands of Jackson. Unsurprisingly, it left viewers 'feeling sick', with some taking to Twitter to say that accusations were 'shocking and disturbing'.

Having made his mark very dramatically with that film, 54-year-old filmmaker Reed opened up about plans for his next project in an interview with Film School Rejects, via MSN News.

He said: "The film I would really like to make following this one is the trial of Michael Jackson. I could only do that if the victim and his family participate.

"If Gavin Arvizo and his family would agree to participate, I would very much like to tell the story of that trial. I think it's fascinating and astonishing that Michael was acquitted. The way that happened is an amazing story and one that should be told."

ITV/Granada Studios

Arvizo and Jackson first met when the former was just ten years old. The young boy had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and on hearing about his plight, Jackson sent him a basket of toys and an invitation to the Neverland ranch, which he accepted.

In 2003, Arvizo testified against Jackson, claiming the singer showed him pornography, gave him alcohol and then sexually abused him. Jackson was acquitted.

Reed tried to contact Arvizo to ask him about being involved in Leaving Neverland, telling inews: "I wrote to Gavin, a very long and carefully worded letter. I'm still very much hoping to hear from him. But he never replied."

Louise Palanker - a family friend of Arvizo - told The Wrap that he wants nothing more to do with the trial or Michael Jackson himself.

She explained: "He doesn't really want to talk about it right now. He just wants to become a man and have a family and a career and not have this be the standout portion of who he is.

"He works in sales right now, he has been a teacher in a Catholic school for a while, but he's very interested in business and also in law school. But [he] would like to start a family."

Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity, Music, Michael Jackson, US Entertainment

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. She spent a few years working on festivals and events before joining LADbible. In her spare time, Amelia likes music and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward