Michael Jackson Biopic Sequel Gets Update From Studio Despite Controversy

A senior exec at the film studio Lionsgate has confirmed that the wheels are in motion on a sequel to the company’s recent controversial Michael Jackson biopic.

Upon its release in April, Michael was met with a lukewarm response from critics, many of whom took issue with the fact that the movie ended in the late 80s, meaning the allegations of child sexual abuse made against the singer in his lifetime were not addressed.

Ever since Michael’s release, there’ve been plenty of conversations about whether a follow-up could be on the cards, with Variety reporting that Lionsgate’s vice chair Adam Fogelson told employees that production on the sequel will get underway at “the end of this year or early next”.

“We do have a number of sequences, particularly some big musical sequences, that were shot previously, that are almost sure to be incorporated but we are mostly focused right now on how to make sure we can deliver, at the right price, the biggest, best sequel,” he was quoted as saying. “That is what the audience is going to want and deserve after the experience we gave them the first time.”

As for a release date, he suggested that it could hit cinemas as early as next year, if not early 2028.

Earlier this year, he was quoted by the same outlet as 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.”

Director Antoine Fuqua has previously made clear that it was his intention to include the allegations made against the film’s subject in the original movie, and some scenes were even shot depicting a police raid on the Neverland ranch.

However, it was later discovered that part of the settlement between the Grammy winner and one of his accusers made it clear that neither the child’s name nor likeness could ever be used, leading to costly reshoots and major tweaks being made to the film’s plot.

It had previously been reported that a sequel to Michael could focus on the chart-topping performer’s later years, and the controversies he faced around that time, which looks increasingly likely given part one’s box office success.

Fogelson also suggested that a Michael sequel would include some of the controversies that the musician faced in his later years, claiming: “From my perspective, it’s important to try to give the audience an authentic understanding of who Michael Jackson was.

“So I think that that can be done with or without some of what was in the third act that had to be scrapped.”