The highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, titled Surviving Michael Jackson, will premiere on YouTube in the U.S. and Canada. Little Dot Studios, an All3Media company, announced on Wednesday that it has acquired exclusive rights to the sequel for both countries and will debut the documentary on its premium YouTube channel, Real Stories.
The hour-long documentary will first air in the U.K. on Channel 4 on March 18. It revisits the stories of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two men who accused Michael Jackson of sexually abusing them as minors. The late pop star’s estate has consistently denied these allegations. Leaving Neverland 2 will focus on Robson and Safechuck’s ongoing legal battles, the personal toll the accusations have taken on them, and the backlash they faced from Jackson’s global fanbase. The documentary also provides exclusive access to court hearings, showing how Jackson’s production companies fought to prevent the case from going to trial.
Little Dot announced that the film will be available on YouTube shortly after its U.K. premiere, though a specific release date was not provided. The decision to release the documentary on YouTube comes as part of an effort to reach a broader audience, leveraging the platform’s dominance in long-form video content.
Dan Reed, the director of the documentary, explained that releasing the film on YouTube removes barriers to access. He noted that while traditional platforms have limited reach, YouTube offers an opportunity for viewers to watch the documentary on their terms, for free. Reed emphasized that Little Dot Studios, with its expertise in digital distribution, is the perfect partner for this initiative.
Paul Woolf, head of unscripted development at Little Dot, added that Leaving Neverland 2 is a significant documentary that will appeal to both traditional audiences and the growing community of viewers on Real Stories. He highlighted the ability of digital platforms to extend the reach of important documentaries.
HBO, which produced the original Leaving Neverland in 2019, is not involved in the sequel. The network lost a legal battle in 2020 against the Jackson estate, which sued HBO for $100 million, claiming the 2019 documentary violated a 27-year-old non-disparagement clause related to a 1992 concert film.
Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, faced numerous allegations of child sexual abuse during his lifetime, including a high-profile trial in 2005, where he was acquitted on all charges.
Leaving Neverland 2 is produced by Dan Reed and Marguerite Gaudin, with editing by Peter Haddon and Ben Hills. Iris Maor served as head of production, and Adam Vandermark is the Channel 4 commissioner. Sphere Abacus is handling international sales. The original 2019 documentary won several awards, including an Emmy for Best Documentary and a BAFTA TV Award for Best Factual Series.
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