Lionsgate has announced plans for a sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic Michael, despite the controversy that surrounded the original film. Adam Fogelson, motion picture chair at Lionsgate, revealed during a quarterly earnings call that preparations for the sequel are progressing exceptionally well.
Sequel Details and Content
Fogelson stated that there remains a wealth of untold Michael Jackson stories, including major events and music catalogue highlights not covered in the first film. He noted that the sequel could explore both earlier and later periods in Jackson's life, saying: 'We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story.' The studio also plans to reuse unused footage from the original production, estimating that 25 to 30% of the sequel is already shot, which will reduce production costs.
Box Office Success and Controversy
The original Michael film, released in April, achieved record-breaking box office figures in the US and UK, grossing $715.8 million worldwide. The movie concludes 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. Much of the original footage was scrapped after producers realized that a settlement with accuser Jordan Chandler prevented Chandler from being depicted or mentioned in the film.
It remains unclear how the sequel will address the abuse allegations, which first surfaced in 1993. Fogelson hinted that the sequel might not follow a linear timeline, allowing for creative flexibility in storytelling.
