Lionsgate Confirms Development of Sequel to ‘Michael’ Biopic
Lionsgate has officially announced that a sequel to the successful biopic “Michael” is currently in development, as revealed during the company’s recent earnings call.
The original film, which chronicles key moments in Michael Jackson’s life, concludes with the message, “His Story Continues,” and the studio has confirmed that this is indeed the direction they are taking.
During the call, Lionsgate film chief Adam Fogelson discussed the follow-up project, stating that the team is making significant progress.
He expressed enthusiasm, saying, “We are really excited about the progress we’re making with respect to a second ‘Michael’ film. All the conversations that we’ve been having with all of the appropriate parties continue to go exceptionally well.”
The first movie wraps up around the time of Michael Jackson’s 1987 “Bad” tour, leaving ample material for a sequel, including his later albums, global fame, and the controversies that surrounded him over the years.
Fogelson emphasized that there remains a wealth of stories to explore. He noted, “I would say that there is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalog that were not touched upon in the first film. There are so many other events that happened, even in the time frame of the original movie that weren’t touched upon, so we’re very, very confident that we’ve got an incredibly entertaining movie that will appeal once again to a global audience as the pieces come together.”
He also mentioned that the sequel may not adhere to a linear timeline, potentially shifting back and forth in time to narrate the story uniquely. He stated, “We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story.”
The first film was a box office triumph, grossing over $700 million worldwide against a production budget of more than $155 million, making it one of the biggest films of 2026.
However, the production journey was complex. Reports indicate that the film initially aimed to include more sensitive aspects of Jackson’s life, such as legal controversies and accusations, but these were omitted during production due to legal constraints involving agreements with the Jackson estate.
Due to these challenges, it remains uncertain how the sequel will address those elements of his history.
Fogelson also revealed that some footage already filmed for the first movie could be utilized in the sequel, potentially lowering production costs. He mentioned, “We think we’ve got 25 to 30% of a second movie already shot from the prior production activity, and so obviously that will have some [financial] benefit ultimately, but we’re going to make sure we make a big and satisfying movie for a global audience once again.”
While the sequel is still in the early stages of development and no release date has been set, Lionsgate is optimistic that the next chapter will continue to engage a global audience, just as the first film did.
For now, fans eagerly await how the studio will further the story and which aspects of Michael Jackson’s life will be featured in the upcoming film.
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