'Michael' sequel is moving forward following record-breaking debut

• Michael set a new biopic record with a $217 million global opening weekend
• Lionsgate chief Adam Fogelson confirmed that a sequel is in active development
• Jaafar Jackson has expressed his intent to return for a second film
• The film faces a significant critic-audience gap on Rotten Tomatoes
  

Following the monumental success of Michael, which recently achieved the biggest opening weekend for a biopic in history, Lionsgate is officially exploring a sequel.

The film, which debuted on 23 April, 2026, earned a historic $217 million globally in its first weekend, prompting immediate discussions about the "His story will continue" teaser seen before the credits.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Adam Fogelson confirmed the news during an appearance on Matthew Belloni’s podcast, The Town, stating that while a second instalment is moving forward, a few logistical hurdles remain.

The primary challenge lies in the busy schedules of director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King. Fuqua is currently committed to a Netflix project alongside Denzel Washington, which may delay the start of production until late 2026 or 2027.

Despite these delays, Jaafar Jackson—whose performance as his uncle has been widely praised—is reportedly eager to return.

Jackson recently told ScreenRant that he has "definitely been thinking about some things" and is fully on board to reprise the role, noting his deep interest in exploring more of Michael Jackson's life.

A significant point of discussion surrounding the film is the stark divide between critics and moviegoers. On Rotten Tomatoes, Michael currently holds a 97% audience score, contrasted by a much lower 37% critic score.

Critics have largely targeted the film’s handling of the singer's controversial history, while audiences have flocked to theatres for the music and Jaafar's "uncanny" portrayal.

As the film continues its record-breaking run, the proposed sequel aims to cover Jackson’s later career, including landmark events like his iconic Super Bowl performance.