'Michael' sequel promised to be 'big and satisfying'
Lionsgate has officially confirmed that a "big and satisfying" Michael sequel is in the works.
According to reports by international outlets Variety and Deadline, Lionsgate's film chief, Adam Fogelson, said that they are "really excited about the progress" they have for the sequel film.
Fogelson said the upcoming film will explore more untold stories and fan-favorite moments from Michael Jackson’s career that were not included in the first movie.
“I would say that there is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalog that were not touched upon in the first film,” Fogelson said.
He also hinted that the storytelling may not follow a chronological order and that some scrapped material from the prior production may still appear in a sequel.
“We think we’ve got 25 to 30% of a second movie already shot from the from the prior production activity, and so obviously that will have some [financial] benefit ultimately, but we’re going to make sure we make a big and satisfying movie for a global audience once again,” Fogelson said.
The first Michael concludes during Michael Jackson’s 1987 “Bad” tour, which means there are still decades of his life and career left to explore, including the success of “Dangerous” and the controversies that followed him in later years.
While Michael was a hit, its production reportedly faced setbacks after scenes involving molestation allegations against Michael Jackson were removed due to legal issues tied to a settlement involving accuser Jordan Chandler, per Variety.
Released in April, Michael was starred by the King of Pop's nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Joining the cast are Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, and Laura Harrier. It was directed by Antoine Fuqua, who also helmed films such as Training Day and The Equalizer trilogy.
It dominated the worldwide box office after pulling in $217 million (around P13.18 billion) during its opening weekend.
Meanwhile, a new docuseries about Jackson's 2005 child molestation trial and acquittal is coming to Netflix in June.
