Lionsgate has confirmed plans for a sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael', despite controversies surrounding the original film. Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate's motion picture chair, revealed in a quarterly earnings call that preparations for the sequel are progressing well.
Fogelson stated that there is 'a ton of incredibly entertaining story' still to tell, including major parts of Jackson's music catalogue not covered in the first film. He noted that the sequel could explore events within the original film's timeframe that were omitted, and may not follow a chronological order.
The first film, released in April, was a box office success, grossing $715.8 million worldwide. It concluded with Jackson's 1988 Wembley Stadium performance during his Bad tour. However, production was marred by issues related to child sex abuse allegations against Jackson, leading to the scrapping of footage involving accuser Jordan Chandler.
Fogelson suggested that unused footage from the first film could be repurposed for the sequel, potentially reducing production costs. He estimated that '25 to 30% of a second movie' has already been shot. It remains unclear how the sequel will address the abuse allegations.
