Michael 2 should go before the cameras by the end of the year, pending a release in 2027, early 2028. There are, er, questions. The suitably sanitised and family-approved biopic of Michael Jackson, Michael, has proven to be one of the absolute biggest box office hits of the year. It’s the first music biopic to ... Michael 2 | They’re actually going to make a sequel, possible release next year
Michael 2 should go before the cameras by the end of the year, pending a release in 2027, early 2028. There are, er, questions.
The suitably sanitised and family-approved biopic of Michael Jackson, Michael, has proven to be one of the absolute biggest box office hits of the year. It’s the first music biopic to earn over $1bn at the global box office, conveniently stopping just ahead of the period where the late superstar hit serious questions about his relationships with young children.
The eye-watering takings for the film though have meant that a sequel is definitely going to happen, and production could be underway – in fact, should be underway – by the end of the year.
It’s pretty well known that material shot for the original film had to be scrapped, reportedly impinging on the agreement Jackson and his team came to with one of his accusers to buy their silence. There was a lot of footage shot for Michael that we never got to see.
On top of that, writer John Logan has to wrestle with how to address Michael Jackson in the 1990s, not least what’s legally allowed to appear in the new film and what isn’t.
Appreciating – I’ve read the internet – some people believe that Michael Jackson was vehemently innocent of 100% of the things he was accused of, there is absolutely another side. Take Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed, and this haunting interview he gave earlier this year, for instance.
The first Michael film could skate by on being a poppy, formulaic, glossy celebration of a generational talent. Michael 2, surely, can’t do that. Or can it? Can all concerned pull off the same trick twice, and avoid anything the estate wouldn’t want talked about? We’ll see.
It’s unclear whether Antoine Fuqua is returning to direct the new movie at this stage, but as per Lionsgate boss Adam Fogelson, “we are mostly focused right now on how to make sure we can deliver, at the right price, the biggest, best sequel. That is what the audience is going to want and deserve after the experience we gave them the first time.”
More as we hear it…
