Where was 'Michael' filmed? Revisting real-life locations for King of Pop's biopic
'Michael' stands out among the other biopics thanks to Jaafar Jackson's heartfelt portrayal of his uncle, Michael Jackson. Furthermore, the King of Pop's biopic went to great lengths to ensure authenticity, even filming at several real-life locations that witnessed pivotal moments in the late pop star's life. Having been released in theatres on Friday, 'Michael' also stars Colman Domingo as Jackson family head and Michael's former manager, Joe Jackson. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, also features Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.
The biopic filmed several scenes at Michael's iconic and controversial Neverland Ranch. The sprawling 2,700-acre property in Los Olivos, California, was purchased by the King of Pop for $17 million in 1988, and he went on to fashion it in accordance with his extravagant vision, adding a 65-foot Ferris wheel. The ranch was also the site of a 2003 police raid following child sexual abuse allegations against Michael. "We filmed at Neverland, it was wild. Somebody else had bought it, but we dressed it up," Fuqua said in an interview on 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen'.
The next real-life location to be featured in the biopic is the Hayvenhurst Estate in Encino. This property was purchased by Joe in 1971, in the wake of The Jackson 5's burgeoning popularity. In the aftermath of Michael's death in 2009, his three children, Bigi, Prince, and Paris Jackson, lived here and were raised by Katherine. Speaking with Interview Magazine, Jaafar recollected, "I slept in many different rooms in the house just to feel the energy. Staying there allowed that to happen without forcing it. I was so fortunate to have that as my playground. Without that, I don’t think it my performance would be what it is, honestly." Moving on, the historic Orpheum Theatre was used by the biopic's crew for filming. The theatre, built a century ago, is one of Los Angeles's most recognizable locations. It isn't known for certain if The Jackson 5 ever performed at this venue.
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles has been featured in several movies, including 'Ocean's 11' and 'Ghostbusters,' and has been photographed for press and public appearances. On the other hand, a biopic of Michael Jackson is incomplete without depicting the making of the landmark 1988 music video of 'Thriller,' which was packaged together as a 14-minute short film. Filming took place at South Calzona Street, Union Pacific Avenue, and Carroll Avenue. Finally, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium was extensively filmed. The chief draw of this location is that the 1983 TV special 'Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever' was filmed here, and it was here that Michael first performed his iconic 'Moonwalk.'
