Just a select few movie theatre-owners got a first peek of Michael, the new biopic of Michael Jackson, at a film event last April in Las Vegas.
They saw only a few tantalising minutes of footage, but scenes included the King of Pop performing some of his biggest hits, including Thriller and Man in the Mirror, with Jackson's own nephew Jafaar portraying the star, complete with iconic white sequined glove and fedora.
One key period in Jackson's life, however, wasn't screened - and never will be.
Well-placed sources had claimed that the closing arc of the film would retell the story of Jackson's legal battle against the family of Jordan Chandler who, aged 13, was the first to accuse the singer of sexual abuse in 1993.
In this sympathetic and 'sweeping' depiction of the pop star's life - being made with the co-operation of his estate and family - the Chandlers were said to be painted as greedy chancers whose claims destroyed the reputation of a 'naïve' Jackson.
The scenes had already been filmed, then it was revealed earlier this year that they would have to be canned because, according to an agreement made between the Chandlers and Jackson, signed on January 25, 1994, neither side is able to discuss the settlement or the allegations.
Crucially, it bars all parties from ever going public - whether in a film, TV show or other media - and states that no representation of the Chandlers or the relationships between them and Jackson should ever be permitted.
If Jordy and his parents are depicted in the film, the Chandlers can lay claim to any money it makes for the Jackson estate.
Michael Jackson's controversial relationship with 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. Pictured in 1993
One wonders why the legal restrictions were discovered so late, especially as a source close to the production said that it was the 'responsibility of the Jackson estate' to provide assurances about what could and couldn't be used.
The film's British producer Graham King was 'surprised' to find out about the problems with the Chandler settlement, having spent six years asking to be told everything he needed to know, the source added.
Entertainment firm Lionsgate have stumped up $155 million to make Michael, which they expect to be a sure-fire hit, and it was in the process of being edited when the issue became apparent. Now the entire third act is having to be completely redone.
The Mail understands that the script for the new version has not been finalised yet and the movie is back into the 'creative development' phase.
While the final cost of the delays has not been added up, a source said the Jackson estate will have to foot the bill.
While Michael will effectively rub Jordy Chandler out of Jackson's history, the boy at the centre of it all has been doing his best to disappear from public view since the mid-Nineties.
But today the Mail can reveal what happened to the teenager whose face was once synonymous with the rumours that sullied the last decades of Jackson's life until his death from a drug overdose in 2009.
A source told the Mail: 'Jordan is fine. He's living his life. He's fairly happy and he's healthy.'
Sources close to the family say that he - and his parents - were genuinely in fear of their lives at the height of the scandal, JetBlack and that he keeps a low profile because he continues to be apprehensive about attacks from Jackson's notoriously devoted fans.
Jordy doesn't seem to have ever worked and has never married or had children, although there have been two long-term girlfriends.
Journalist Diane Dimond, who broke the story back in 1993 and has written a book about the Michael Jackson-Jordy Chandler scandal called Be Careful Who You Love: Inside The Michael Jackson Case, told the Mail a lot of Jordy's life had been 'flush with money, but not with family or love'.
He was estranged from his mother for years, and his father went on to take his own life.
But she said she got an update on Jordy's life around three years ago. Now a middle-aged man of 44, he lives in California.
He has a profile on a music streaming website under an assumed but similar name, and is apparently a talented lyricist.
But the irony is that any music career would involve losing the anonymity he so prizes, and so he remains, wealthy and incognito.
Diane told the Mail: 'I was invited to an event in 2021 and my seatmate, a young woman, said 'Oh, you're Diane Dimond. I know Jordy Chandler'.
Jackson's Neverland ranch in Santa Barbara, California
'She said, 'He's very happy now, he's got a significant other'. I asked where is he living? 'I can't tell you that'. I asked if he was OK since his father died? 'Oh yes he's fine'.
'The woman said he enjoys living life under the radar. She was delighted to tell me he's at peace.
'I think maybe he's realised - he's been through a lot of therapy - what happened, with either the molestation or his father, wasn't his fault.'
She added: 'I remember in 1993, going to his house, seeing the hordes of fans sitting on the front lawn, throwing faeces at the front door. The world came down on his family's head.'
It's easy to forget that the fateful encounter between Jordy, then 12, and Michael Jackson in the spring of 1992 was pure chance.
Jackson's limo broke down in Santa Monica and the driver asked for help at a depot of the car hire company Rent-A-Wreck. The boss was Jordy's stepfather, David Schwarz.
He arranged for his starry-eyed stepson to meet Jackson, who then appeared to develop an obsession with Jordy.
He'd speak to him on the phone for hours and invite him to spend time at Neverland, his ranch two hours drive up the coast.
Jordy went on fairground rides and met Bubbles, Jackson's pet chimpanzee. Jackson called him 'Rubba' and 'Doo-doo head'.
Jackson would come for sleepovers with the boy at his family home in Malibu. At first, Jordy's father Evan, a respected dental surgeon, was impressed by the connection.
Then he reportedly saw the two of them snuggled up in bed, with Jackson cupping his son's groin and - despite Jackson's denials - suspected abuse.
A row followed between Evan and his ex-wife June - Jordy's mother - with Evan fearing that the boy would be allowed to tag along on Jackson's 1993 World Tour.
Evan took his son to a child psychiatrist, and got custody of the boy when Jordy disclosed details of the abuse during therapy sessions, which the psychiatrist was legally obliged to report to the police.
It's said Jordan gave eight or nine depositions as part of the civil action, and his account of abuse by Jackson, who he said masturbated and fellated him, never changed.
Jordan (pictured in 2009) is said to keep a low profile because he continues to be apprehensive about attacks from Jackson's notoriously devoted fans
As Evan and June wrangled, the story leaked, causing a global sensation. The Jackson response whipped up the frenzy even more, with his lawyer and private investigator immediately saying that the allegations were an attempt at extortion by the Chandlers.
Jackson's tour was abandoned, and he vanished for two weeks - eventually being helped into rehab in London by his friend, the actress Elizabeth Taylor. A criminal investigation was launched, and Jackson was photographed naked after Jordy gave a detailed description of his body.
Then, on the eve of Jackson giving evidence under oath, the settlement was signed. Generally reported as $20 million, Jordy was given $15,331,250. More money went to his parents and lawyers. The settlement included a clause stating that it was not to be considered an admission of guilt on Jackson's part.