Michael, the biopic starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle Michael Jackson, premiered on April 24, 2026 — and a sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic is already being discussed before the opening weekend numbers had even settled.
Lionsgate Says There Is More Story to Tell
Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson made the studio's position clear at the movie's premiere. "We absolutely have more story to tell. We have prepared for that moment. And if the audience reinforces that they're ready for more, we're prepared to give it to them sooner rather than later," he told The Hollywood Reporter.
A title card appearing at the end of the film as the credits roll reads: "His Story Continues." According to an insider cited by The Hollywood Reporter, the note was added about a month before release when producers and filmmakers realised how commercially successful the film could be.
The Box Office Threshold — and What Happened Next
Variety reported in April 2026 that a sequel would be greenlit if Michael grossed $700 million worldwide. Director Antoine Fuqua confirmed he would be on board.
"There's the whole Neverland of it all, there's the Super Bowl, some of that stuff we have. So we'll see how things go at the box office," Fuqua said in an interview with BlackTree TV.
The film crossed that threshold comfortably. By June 2026, Michael had earned over $911 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing music biopic of all time — surpassing Bohemian Rhapsody. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer stated: "We believe there is a lot more story to tell and a lot more music to share."
Why the Third Act Was Cut
Legal issues played a significant role in shaping the original film. Michael was originally set to address the 1993 lawsuit in which a 13-year-old boy accused Jackson of molestation. However, a clause discovered in January 2025 in the singer's settlement agreement barred any depiction or mention of the accuser in film or television.
The entire third act of the movie was removed as a result. Director Fuqua retooled the film to focus instead on Michael's tense relationship with his father Joe Jackson during his rising solo career.
What a Sequel Could Cover
Lionsgate and Fuqua have already indicated that around 25 to 30 percent of the footage from the removed third act could appear in a sequel, including scenes depicting a police raid on Michael's Neverland Ranch. Fuqua told The New Yorker in April 2026 that the footage showed the singer being treated in a deeply dehumanising way during the raid.
Other potential territory includes the Neverland years and Jackson's Super Bowl halftime performance — both of which Fuqua has referenced as stories still waiting to be told. Fuqua added that he would be devastated if someone else directed the follow-up: "It would kill me if somebody else did it."
Jaafar Jackson on the Role
Jaafar Jackson, who plays his uncle in the film, described the role as the honour of a lifetime in an April 2026 interview with Vogue. The biopic has been in development since 2019 and was delayed by a year due to the legal complications surrounding the 1993 lawsuit.
Jaafar has also confirmed his interest in reprising the role, saying "I absolutely do" want to return for a second film.
Whether a sequel moves forward now rests on the studio's timeline — but with the box office numbers already in, the conversation has clearly moved from "if" to "when."
