With Michael’s huge success, Lionsgate is eager to get the next installment into production. The studio confirmed that Michael 2 is in the works and production is slated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. The sequel is now a top priority following the first film’s record-breaking global box office success, as Adam Fogelson, Chairman of the Motion Picture Group, said on Lionsgate’s latest earnings call.
That’s an understandable choice. Michael grossed over $1 billion worldwide and became Lionsgate’s highest grossing film ever, giving the studio plenty of reason to keep telling Michael Jackson’s story. Lionsgate seems committed to making the biopic a two-part saga that explores multiple periods of the singer’s life, rather than a one-and-done deal.
Where the Story Could Go Next
The first film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, starred Jaafar Jackson as his legendary uncle and finished with the Bad World Tour in 1987. While Lionsgate has not announced the precise filming location for the sequel, the movie is widely anticipated to move into the next chapter in Jackson’s career, the Dangerous era and the years following.
Those were some of Jackson’s most important years in his career as he gave unforgettable performances, sold-out tours and released massive albums. At the same time, they were the beginning of the personal and public struggles that would characterize his life. This gives the sequel a wealth of material to explore, though the filmmakers have yet to reveal just how much of that time period they intend to cover.
Fogelson also said that the production will feature footage that was shot for the original but not used in the first movie. Reusing previously shot musical sequences and scenes should make production easier, as it allows the filmmakers to build on what has already been done.
A Bigger Challenge Than the First Film
Breaking up Michael Jackson’s life into two films has given the creative team more flexibility than is usually afforded in a traditional biopic. Instead of trying to squeeze decades of music, performances and personal milestones into one film, the story gets to spend more time on the moments that formed one of the world’s most famous entertainers. Clearly, the first movie was a success, both commercially and for audiences who wanted a more complete look at Jackson’s career.
But the sequel runs into a completely different problem. The subject matter gets progressively harder as the story moves into the late 1980s and 1990s. Those years hold some of Jackson’s most significant career accomplishments, but they also hold the controversies that continue to inform public conversation about his legacy. How the filmmakers deal with that part of his life will definitely be one of the biggest topics of discussion about the sequel.
For Lionsgate, the key right now is to keep the momentum. Michael 2 is already shaping up to be one of the studio’s biggest projects, with production expected to begin within the next year and a release date set for either the first half of 2028 or late 2027. The first film beat almost all commercial expectations, and now the spotlight is on the sequel to prove the story has another compelling chapter to tell.