The sequel to the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland,” titled “Surviving Michael Jackson,” will be available to watch on YouTube in the U.S. and Canada. Little Dot Studios, an All3Media company, announced on Wednesday that it had acquired the exclusive U.S. and English Canadian rights to the sequel and will release it on Real Stories, Little Dot’s premium documentary YouTube channel.
The hour-long follow-up will premiere in the U.K. on Channel 4 on March 18, and it will update viewers on Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who accused Michael Jackson of sexually abusing them when they were minors. Jackson denied the allegations while he was alive, and his estate continues to deny them. According to its official synopsis, “Leaving Neverland 2” focuses on Robson and Safechuck’s “ongoing legal battle, the resulting personal toll, and the backlash they faced from Jackson’s global fanbase.” The documentary also provides exclusive access to court hearings and reveals how MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures tried to prevent the case from going to trial.
Little Dot stated that the documentary will be available on YouTube “shortly after” its U.K. premiere, but the exact date was not specified. The decision to release “Surviving Michael Jackson” on YouTube aims to “ensure the film reaches a wide and diverse audience by leveraging its growing dominance as a platform for long-form viewing.”
Dan Reed, the director of the documentary and founder of Amos Pictures, said: “Premiering this film on YouTube is about breaking down barriers to access. Traditional platforms can only reach so many people, but YouTube offers an opportunity for this story to be seen by audiences on their own terms as it’s freely available. With its proven expertise in digital distribution and commitment to impactful storytelling, Little Dot Studios is the ideal partner to make that happen. This release marks a significant step forward in how important documentaries can be shared and discussed at scale.”
Paul Woolf, head of unscripted development at Little Dot, added, “‘Leaving Neverland 2’ is a powerful and significant film that deserves to be seen by both traditional documentary audiences and the growing community of viewers on Real Stories. Our established YouTube channels allow us to connect this documentary with engaged audiences who actively seek out thought-provoking content.”
HBO, which produced the original 2019 documentary, is not involved in the sequel. In 2020, HBO lost a legal battle against the Jackson estate, which sued the network for $100 million, claiming “Leaving Neverland” violated a 27-year-old non-disparagement clause from a 1992 concert film.
Jackson, who passed away in 2009, was the subject of multiple allegations of child sexual abuse during his career, even facing criminal charges in 2005. He denied all allegations and was found not guilty.
“Leaving Neverland 2” is produced by Reed and Marguerite Gaudin, with Peter Haddon and Ben Hills as editors. Iris Maor was the head of production, and Adam Vandermark is the Channel 4 commissioner. Sphere Abacus is handling international sales.
The original 2019 film won an Emmy for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special, as well as a BAFTA TV Award for Best Factual Series.
