WHEN filmmaker Dan Reed set about making the follow-up to his documentary Leaving Neverland, he hoped to show Wade Robson and James Safechuck telling their stories about Michael Jackson in front of a jury.
But six years on, the men have yet to make it into court to describe the sexual abuse they claim the singer inflicted on them.
Instead, Leaving Neverland 2 follows Wade, 42, and James, 47, on their tortuous journey to get permission for their day in court, a date now set for November 2026.
They filed lawsuits more than a decade ago against Jackson's companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, for failing to keep them safe during the time they spent at Neverland as children.
Dan claimed: "Because the Jackson estate, at all costs, wants to avoid a trial, they have found ways to delay and delay. Justice delayed, is justice denied."
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742174184/articles/x1gR41hf6TeKnRhnELsys/2244717122.jpg]
Much of the film, to be shown on Channel 4 tomorrow night, shows a merry-go-round of perplexing legal knockbacks.
But, finally, in 2023, three appeal judges rule that James and Wade can go to trial, branding the previous rulings against them being able to testify "perverse".
After being told the trial is going ahead, Wade is filled with hope.
He said: "I never expected a legal document like that to be emotional.
"Standing up for all children is how the ruling felt to me."
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742174184/articles/x1gR41hf6TeKnRhnELsys/7152744791.jpg]
Admitting the thought of speaking of his alleged abuse feels "fricking terrifying", he added: "If I get the opportunity to get on the stand and tell the truth - like I wasn't able to do for decades - that's a win for me."
He argues it is reasonable to go after employees who allowed Jackson to carry out the alleged abuse.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742174184/articles/x1gR41hf6TeKnRhnELsys/1774242825.jpg]
He claimed: "All Michael Jackson's interactions were organised by staff. There were bodyguards right outside the door when the abuse was going on - there were always people around who worked for him.
"No one did anything. People must have known - there was a constant cycle of kids."
James said of his alleged abuse: "You blame yourself for [it], and that's a terrible feeling. Pursuing this was the act of fighting back. I wanted to fight for myself and for little James. The 10 years we spent battling for it makes me more appreciative and grateful we're able to even go forward."
Dan said: "This is not just establishing the facts of Jackson's sexual abuse of children, this is establishing that a lot of the people around him have enabled, and had knowledge of it, and covered it up.
"That's what's scary. This ridiculous long wait to get into court, to get in front of a jury, is what the film is about.
How can a corporation that hires someone, a child, have no responsibility for that child? It just seems bizarre.
"If the child is in the care of a corporation, surely that corporation has a duty of care, not to make you available to a sexual predator?"
Dan knows this documentary, as before, will prove controversial for fans who refuse to believe Jackson was a paedophile.
He said: "His fans don't care he was a monster, they just like the music, so they want to believe he was a saint. Do you think he couldn't be a paedophile just because he could do the moonwalk? Because he could make great music? Those two things can both be true."
So far, five boys who Jackson shared beds with have accused him of sexual abuse, with most settled out of court.
Wade alleg...
But six years on, the men have yet to make it into court to describe the sexual abuse they claim the singer inflicted on them.
Instead, Leaving Neverland 2 follows Wade, 42, and James, 47, on their tortuous journey to get permission for their day in court, a date now set for November 2026.
They filed lawsuits more than a decade ago against Jackson's companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, for failing to keep them safe during the time they spent at Neverland as children.
Dan claimed: "Because the Jackson estate, at all costs, wants to avoid a trial, they have found ways to delay and delay. Justice delayed, is justice denied."
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742174184/articles/x1gR41hf6TeKnRhnELsys/2244717122.jpg]
Much of the film, to be shown on Channel 4 tomorrow night, shows a merry-go-round of perplexing legal knockbacks.
But, finally, in 2023, three appeal judges rule that James and Wade can go to trial, branding the previous rulings against them being able to testify "perverse".
After being told the trial is going ahead, Wade is filled with hope.
He said: "I never expected a legal document like that to be emotional.
"Standing up for all children is how the ruling felt to me."
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742174184/articles/x1gR41hf6TeKnRhnELsys/7152744791.jpg]
Admitting the thought of speaking of his alleged abuse feels "fricking terrifying", he added: "If I get the opportunity to get on the stand and tell the truth - like I wasn't able to do for decades - that's a win for me."
He argues it is reasonable to go after employees who allowed Jackson to carry out the alleged abuse.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742174184/articles/x1gR41hf6TeKnRhnELsys/1774242825.jpg]
He claimed: "All Michael Jackson's interactions were organised by staff. There were bodyguards right outside the door when the abuse was going on - there were always people around who worked for him.
"No one did anything. People must have known - there was a constant cycle of kids."
James said of his alleged abuse: "You blame yourself for [it], and that's a terrible feeling. Pursuing this was the act of fighting back. I wanted to fight for myself and for little James. The 10 years we spent battling for it makes me more appreciative and grateful we're able to even go forward."
Dan said: "This is not just establishing the facts of Jackson's sexual abuse of children, this is establishing that a lot of the people around him have enabled, and had knowledge of it, and covered it up.
"That's what's scary. This ridiculous long wait to get into court, to get in front of a jury, is what the film is about.
How can a corporation that hires someone, a child, have no responsibility for that child? It just seems bizarre.
"If the child is in the care of a corporation, surely that corporation has a duty of care, not to make you available to a sexual predator?"
Dan knows this documentary, as before, will prove controversial for fans who refuse to believe Jackson was a paedophile.
He said: "His fans don't care he was a monster, they just like the music, so they want to believe he was a saint. Do you think he couldn't be a paedophile just because he could do the moonwalk? Because he could make great music? Those two things can both be true."
So far, five boys who Jackson shared beds with have accused him of sexual abuse, with most settled out of court.
Wade alleg...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 17, 2025