*Nia Long may have played a supporting role in the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael,” but behind the scenes, she is reportedly taking center stage in a battle over her paycheck.
According to Puck News, the actress is “quietly fighting” Lionsgate over a pay discrepancy that she believes violates the terms of her contract. Long’s contract reportedly included a “favored nations” clause — a standard industry provision designed to ensure that no costar walks away with a bigger check. Despite that protection, she allegedly found out that both Colman Domingo and Miles Teller received higher compensation than she did. She is now reportedly threatening to bring the studio to mediation over the gap.
Adding another layer to the dispute is the significant reduction of Long’s role in the finished film. The original script reportedly gave her character, Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, a prominent place in the story’s final section, including “a key scene at the end of the film.” That material was removed after producers discovered that a clause in the family settlement between Jackson and Jordan Chandler — who accused the pop star of child molestation, in 1993 — barred any portrayal of Chandler in depictions of Jackson’s life, forcing a costly overhaul of the film’s third act.
Long appeared to tip her hand about the situation during a recent “Today” show appearance. When asked whether she would come back for a potential sequel, she responded pointedly, “If the price is right!”
The behind-the-scenes tension comes as “Michael” continues to shatter box office records. The film pulled in more than $123 million domestically and $277 million worldwide in its opening week alone, landing it among the highest-grossing biopics ever made.
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