Lionsgate Chairman Adam Fogelson has provided an update on the release window for Michael 2, the sequel to the billion-dollar Michael Jackson biopic Michael. The film is targeting a production start towards the end of this year or early next, with a release expected between the end of calendar 2027 and the first half of calendar 2028.
Sequel Details
During a Q1 call with analysts, Fogelson stated that some big musical sequences were previously shot and are almost sure to be incorporated into the sequel. He emphasized the focus on delivering the biggest, best sequel at the right price, noting that the audience will want and deserve that after the experience of the first film.
Fogelson did not provide budget guidance yet but confirmed the production will take advantage of previously shot material. The original Michael film grossed over $1 billion at the box office despite mostly negative reviews, becoming the highest-grossing biopic of all time.
Controversy and Reshoots
The first film concluded in 1988 with the tagline “His Story Continues…” and depicted the 1993 child abuse allegations against Jackson, which he denied and were settled out of court. Reshoots were required because the original legal settlement included a clause that the 13-year-old boy Jordan Chandler could not be included in a future biopic movie.
Given that the sequel will presumably take place in the 1990s, questions remain about how the story will handle that period. The sequel is expected to be the first of possibly two films.
