A sequel to 2019's Leaving Neverland documentary is in the works after director Dan Reed confirmied he has started filming, despite legal challenges.
The original award-winning Channel 4 documentary aired back in March 2019 and shocked the world with its accounts of Michael Jackson's alleged abuse on Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
According to Deadline, Reed has been filming in the Los Angeles Superior Court for the follow up documentary, which is expected to detail the aftermath of the original film, as well as the claims currently being pursued by Robson and Safechuck that they were sexually abused by Jackson when they were minors.
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Jackson's estate strongly deny these claims, with MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures attempting to block Reed's sequel documentary and his access to legal proceedings.
The companies have now issued Reed with subpoenas (an order issued by a court) demanding he hand over materials relating to the documentary and the sequel as well as banning him from filming in the court room.
In response, the filmmaker has filed a 79-page motion which states he has no personal affiliation with Robson and Safechuck and emphasises that he is a UK resident (which could make it more complex for a judge to demand he hand over materials relating to the film).
He also said he had asked MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures counsel Howard Weitzman to appear in the doc.
Speaking about the legal battle, Reed said: "The follow-up documentary for which I am currently filming in these cases is about current events taking place partly in public view and will be an unfolding narrative with multiple points of view."
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Meanwhile, Channel 4's head of news and current affairs, Louisa Compton, added: "Understandably, the MJJ companies are not happy with Leaving Neverland or the making of the follow-up documentary. It is easy to see why they do not want the subject matter of these films to be reported to the public.
"However, as much as they may dislike the messages that are being conveyed by these documentaries, we strenuously oppose their efforts to 'shoot the messenger'.
"In particular, we at Channel 4 oppose their effort to use subpoenas to try to force Reed and his company to turn over all of their unpublished materials and drag this journalist into depositions.
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"In the UK, as in the United States, the courts are very reluctant to order journalists to hand over unbroadcast and other journalistic material, given the strong legal protections that exist to protect freedom of expression.
"The motives of the MJJ companies are further revealed by their attempt to ban Reed from filming in the courtroom and thereby prohibit him from getting footage to report on the proceedings.
"We oppose these efforts to suppress journalism by preventing Reed from further informing the public about these matters of vital public importance."
The hearing for Reed's motion is scheduled for 9th April next year.
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