Jaafar Jackson Shares His Excitement for Michael Jackson Songs in ‘Michael’ Sequel

The 2026 film ‘Michael,’ directed by Antoine Fuqua, chronicles Michael Jackson’s early career from the Jackson 5 era through the late 1980s and has emerged as a significant commercial and cultural success.

With a worldwide gross of $430.3 million, it stands as the fourth highest-grossing film of 2026. As the initial chapter of this ambitious project concludes, both industry insiders and fans are eager to know what lies ahead. Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew who takes on the role of the King of Pop, has expressed his enthusiasm for continuing the story.

The success of ‘Michael’ has created a clear opportunity for a sequel. Producer Graham King revealed that the original cut of the film runs three and a half hours, leaving room for a follow-up, with closing text stating, “His story continues.”

King has indicated that there is sufficient material for another installment, with the studio potentially able to utilize at least 30 percent of the footage that was cut from the original film. This has naturally led to speculation about what a second film could explore within Jackson’s iconic catalog.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Jaafar shared which iconic Michael Jackson performance he would be most thrilled to recreate if he returns for a sequel. He specifically mentioned the ‘Smooth Criminal’ short film from 1988, part of the extended ‘Moonwalker’ project, expressing genuine excitement about bringing that vision to life. “It would be an honor to do that,” he remarked, emphasizing the performance’s special significance in his uncle’s artistic legacy.

The ‘Smooth Criminal’ performance is one of Michael Jackson’s most visually stunning and intricate pieces, combining elaborate choreography with a cinematic narrative that highlighted his growth as a full-fledged entertainer and filmmaker.

In the current film, audiences have already witnessed Jaafar’s remarkable ability to embody his uncle, with many viewers noting, “at times I forgot I wasn’t watching the man himself,” due to his vocal precision and physical representation of the icon. The possibility of seeing him tackle the ‘Smooth Criminal’ sequence would further build on the acclaim he has already received.

While a sequel has not yet been officially confirmed, the Hollywood Reporter noted that if ‘Michael’ continues to perform well at the box office, there will be a strong financial incentive for an encore, although scheduling and production costs will need to be considered.

If a follow-up is greenlit, audiences can anticipate seeing Jaafar Jackson perform tracks from albums like ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Invincible,’ explore the creation of Neverland Ranch, and delve into other pivotal moments from Jackson’s later career.

Until an official announcement is made, Jaafar’s insights provide fans with an exciting glimpse of what may come next—and why he is eager to continue dancing in his uncle’s footsteps. What aspects of Michael Jackson’s career would you like to see in a potential sequel?