Lionsgate is targeting a late 2027 or early 2028 release for Michael 2, the sequel to its record-breaking Michael Jackson biopic, with production set to begin by year-end 2026, according to studio executives.
The sequel, still in early development, will benefit from a significant production advantage: Lionsgate already has 25 to 30 percent of the film shot from archival footage captured during production of the original biopic, according to Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate’s motion picture group. Fogelson revealed this detail during the studio’s May 2026 earnings call with analysts.
The original Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, became a cultural phenomenon after its April 24, 2026 release. The film crossed $1 billion at the global box office in July 2026, becoming the first biopic in history to reach that milestone and Lionsgate’s first film ever to surpass the mark.
Fogelson emphasized that the sequel will expand rather than simply extend the original’s narrative. “We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story,” he said on the earnings call, according to Deadline. “There are so many other events that happened, even in the time frame of the original movie, that weren’t touched upon.”
The first film ended in 1988, at the height of Jackson’s commercial dominance, leaving vast stretches of his career and life unexplored. CEO Jon Feltheimer reinforced the studio’s confidence in the project, stating: “We believe there is a lot more story to tell and a lot more music to share,” per Deadline.
The greenlight reflects both the commercial success of Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson sequel with archival footage and the broader strength of music biopics in recent years. The original Michael opened to $217.4 million worldwide in its first weekend, the largest opening ever for a biopic, signaling broad global audience appetite for Jackson’s story.
Fogelson noted that the studio is still in negotiations with “all the appropriate parties”—likely including the Jackson estate and other stakeholders—before moving to active pre-production. No director, additional casting, or final timeline has been announced yet.
Sources
- Deadline — Fogelson’s confirmation of the sequel, the 25-30% archival footage detail, the release timeline, Feltheimer’s statement on additional story and music, and the original film’s trajectory to $1 billion
- Variety — Michael crossing $1 billion at the global box office in July 2026, becoming the first biopic to reach the milestone
- ECIKS — Confirmation of the sequel in development, archival footage economics, Fogelson’s quotes on narrative scope, and the original film’s box office performance
