After the audience this week Michael The first screening was processed with over two hours of visits, and a title card appeared on the screen. Written in bright gold letters was: “His story continues.”
For many of the stakeholders behind the Michael Jackson biopic, or anyone who has read hundreds of headlines Michael And produced unexpectedly over the past year, the declaration can be read as a declaration of defiance or an open question about the status of a country. Michael: Part two.
The biopic was never intended to be a two-parter, but last year, under a chaotic cloud of reshoots and postponed release dates, the idea of splitting the film took shape.
The title card was a relatively last-minute addition, according to a knowledgeable insider, who said it was only put in place about a month ago, when the filmmakers and studios were behind it Michael She began to realize how successful she was It could become a movie.
Lionsgate Studios, Universal, the Jackson Estate and filmmakers including producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua clearly want to start something. However, the source says THR The script for this potential second film from writer John Logan has not been finalized yet, and insiders claim that nothing will be officially decided until… Michael Opens April 24th.
“We definitely have more stories to tell,” said Adam Fogelson, president of Lionsgate’s film division. THR On the red carpet at the premiere Monday night. “We’ve prepared for that moment. And if the public says they’re ready for more, we’re willing to give it to them sooner rather than later.” But Fogelson noted that the decision to produce a sequel will not be determined by box office gross alone, but also by fans’ desire for more of Jackson’s story.
Regarding the sequel, King said at the premiere: “We’re definitely throwing around some ideas. We’ll see what happens very soon, but right now, I’m very concerned about people seeing this movie.”
Lionsgate is handling the local release of Michaelwith Universal acquiring international distribution. When he came in early tracking, Michael It is estimated to earn between $55 million to $60 million in domestic ticket sales; It has since risen to $65 to $70 million.
Jackson’s international fan base should not be underestimated. The film began its press tour with a premiere in Berlin, Germany, which included a three-day fan experience. MichaelInternational ticket sales are expected to add significant gains to the box office total, with a global opening weekend expected in the $150 million range.
Michael It opens after a long and winding journey to the big screen.
Initially dated April 2025, Michael It reached its final release in April 2026 after it was discovered that the film needed an overhaul due to censorship by Michael Jackson’s estate, which backs the film. The original film showed Jackson facing charges of child sexual abuse, which made up much of the third act. But a former defendant reached a settlement with the estate that ensured he would never appear in any future business ventures.
As previously reported THRan additional 22-day shooting event occurred in June 2025, with additional production costs paid by the property through its fault. At this time, a plan was pushed to the studio partners to split the film into two separate films.
From the beginning, Fuqua set out to make a more dramatic film, tackling the child molestation accusations that tarnished Jackson’s legacy head-on. “I shot him while he was being stripped naked, treated like an animal, a monster,” Fuqua said. the The New Yorker To film a scene when the police raid Neverland Ranch. When the film was remade, King pushed for it Michael To become a more fascinating story focusing on Jackson’s music, abandoning the scandal.
“This is not the movie [Fuqua] The director and producer have since come together on the new vision for the film, says the insider, who also added that the director and producer have since come together on the new vision for the film.
The new iteration of Michael Jackson’s legal battles are likely to draw crowds. The film now ends with Jackson’s 1984 victory lap, after which Jackson continues the attack on his own, leading to… bad Album. At the premiere, during the film’s cinematic musical performances, it was difficult to tell whether the cheering and applause came from the crowds on screen or the audience inside the Dolby system. (Critics have been less kind to… Michaelwhich currently has a Metacritic score of 38.)
With an emphasis on music and performances, Michael He has made comparisons with bohemian rhapsodyThe biopic about Quinn, which was produced by King, grossed more than $900 million at the global box office and won star Rami Malek the Best Actor Oscar.
As for a potential sequel, footage from the initial photo shoot could be used, including concert footage from the film dangerous and invincible Tours could make up as much as a third of a potential second film, according to sources. But those who have seen the film also wonder what there is left to say, since the film covered much of Jackson’s most popular music, and it is unclear how a production unable or uninterested in addressing Jackson’s controversies could handle the latter part of his life.
There is also the issue of scheduling and production costs. Talents like Fuqua, along with in-demand actors like Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller and newcomer Jafar Jackson, should be brought back, and if Michael It is a success and can be negotiated very well for higher pay days.
“It’s a sensitive subject,” a representative of one of the film’s on-screen talents says of the potential follow-up.
However, if Michael If the film becomes the success it is headed toward at the box office, there will be plenty of incentive for a renewed performance.
Tiffany Taylor and Pamela McClintock contributed to this report.
