Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson has confirmed that a sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is likely to enter production within the next year, per film-news.co.uk.
Speaking on The Town podcast, Fogelson indicated a “very high” probability that filming would commence in late 2026 or 2027, extending the narrative of the King of Pop’s life beyond the scope of the first instalment.
The initial film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, focuses on the singer’s rise with the Jackson 5 and the era-defining success of the Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad albums.
While the first movie concludes at the peak of Jackson’s global fame in the late 1980s, the sequel intends to explore subsequent chapters of the artist’s career and personal history.
Fogelson stated that he will meet with Fuqua and the production team over the coming weeks to solidify the creative vision and timeline for the follow-up. He noted that the filmmakers aim to provide a deeper understanding of Jackson’s character, suggesting there are numerous narrative avenues to achieve this.
The production of the first film faced significant hurdles, including legal complexities regarding the depiction of child sex abuse allegations first raised in the 1990s. These challenges reportedly necessitated millions of dollars in reshoots to shift the film’s conclusion away from Jackson’s later years, ending instead on a celebratory note during his mid-career prime.
Addressing the content of the sequel, Fogelson admitted the project remains complicated but highlighted significant milestones yet to be dramatised. These include later multi-platinum albums and Jackson’s 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance, which fundamentally altered the scale of sporting entertainment.
The studio boss emphasised that a “huge portion” of the singer’s life remains to be told, separate from the legal allegations that surfaced in his later years. A final decision on the specific historical events to be included in the sequel will be made following the upcoming production summits.
The announcement comes as Lionsgate seeks to capitalise on the high anticipation for *Michael*. By partitioning Jackson’s life into multiple films, the studio can navigate the contrast between his unprecedented commercial peak and the controversial legal battles that defined his final decades.
