Lionsgate confirms second Michael Jackson biopic movie in the works

Lionsgate may already have a major head start on a sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, after a studio executive revealed that about 25 to 30 percent of the follow-up film may already have been shot.

Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair, said footage left out of the first film could form part of a second movie on the late pop star’s life.

“We think we’ve got 25 to 30% of a second movie already shot from the prior production activity,” Fogelson told Variety, adding that the material could give the studio a financial advantage as plans for the sequel progress.

He said the studio was focused on making “a big and satisfying movie for a global audience.”

The first film, titled Michael, stars Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s nephew, as the King of Pop. It was directed by Antoine Fuqua, known for Training Day.

The film reportedly ends in 1988, before the most controversial years of Jackson’s life, including the child sexual abuse allegations that continued to follow him until his death and after.

Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, but the allegations have remained a major part of public debate around his legacy. The claims were also revisited in the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, which featured Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

The first movie was initially expected to touch on some of the allegations, but legal complications reportedly affected that plan.

One major issue involves Jordan Chandler, whose family reached a reported $20 million settlement with Jackson in 1994 after allegations of abuse. Under the terms of the settlement, Chandler cannot reportedly be portrayed or mentioned in a film.

Fogelson did not directly say whether the sequel would address the abuse allegations. However, he suggested that the second film could explore major events and music from Jackson’s later life that were not included in the first movie.

“There is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalogue that were not touched upon in the first film,” he said.

He added that the next film could move “forwards and backwards” in telling Jackson’s story rather than following a straight chronological structure.

Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest linked to the powerful anaesthetic propofol, which had been administered to help him sleep.

The biopic Michael has been backed by Jackson’s estate and has reportedly performed strongly at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing music biopics after Bohemian Rhapsody.