The story is far from over.
After the massive worldwide success of Michael, Lionsgate has officially confirmed that work on a second Michael Jackson movie is already moving forward. During the studio’s latest quarterly earnings call, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson revealed that discussions about a sequel are progressing “exceptionally well.”
The first film closes during the Bad era in 1987, leaving an enormous part of Michael Jackson’s life and career still unexplored. According to Fogelson, that was always part of the plan.
“There is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalog were not touched upon in the first film,” he explained.
That means a potential second movie could dive into the Dangerous and HIStory eras, major world tours, groundbreaking performances, and some of the biggest moments of Michael Jackson’s global superstardom. Fogelson also hinted that the storytelling may not follow a strict timeline.
“We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story,” he teased.
The possibility of a second chapter has actually been circulating for months. Back in March, Lionsgate CFO Jim Barge had already hinted that the studio was considering splitting the story into two films.
Interestingly, Lionsgate also revealed that around 25 to 30 percent of a second movie may already have been shot during production of the first film. If true, this could significantly speed up development while reducing production costs.
The announcement comes after Michael became one of the biggest box office successes of 2026. Produced with a budget exceeding $155 million, the biopic has already grossed more than $700 million worldwide.
Still, questions remain about how a sequel would handle the controversies surrounding Michael Jackson’s later years. The original film reportedly underwent major rewrites after legal complications linked to agreements involving Jordan Chandler prevented any depiction or mention connected to that case. Large portions of the original third act were ultimately removed.
Despite those complications, Lionsgate appears fully committed to continuing the cinematic story of the King of Pop.
And with the first movie ending on the words “His Story Continues,” fans may not have to wait too long before the next chapter begins.
Graphic by Billie KC
