Lionsgate confirms second Michael Jackson biopic is in development

Lionsgate has confirmed that a second biopic film about late pop icon Michael Jackson is already in development, with portions of the sequel reportedly filmed during production of the first movie.

According to Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson, between 25 and 30 percent of the follow-up film may already be complete using footage shot during the original production.

READ ALSO: AI music is inevitable, says Johnny Drille

“We think we’ve got 25 to 30% of a second movie already shot from the prior production activity,” Fogelson told Variety.

He explained that the existing footage could give the studio a financial advantage as work on the sequel continues, adding that the goal is to create “a big and satisfying movie for a global audience.”

The first biopic, titled Michael, stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, in the lead role. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, known for movies such as Training Day.

Reports indicate that the first movie concludes around 1988, before the more controversial periods of Jackson’s life, including the child sexual abuse allegations that followed him for years.

Although Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, the allegations remained part of public discourse and resurfaced prominently in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which featured testimonies from Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

The studio reportedly faced legal complications regarding references to Jordan Chandler, whose family reached a reported $20 million settlement with Jackson in 1994 after allegations of abuse. Reports claim the settlement terms prevent Chandler from being portrayed or mentioned in the film.

While Fogelson did not confirm whether the sequel would directly address the allegations, he hinted that the second movie would explore events and music from Jackson’s later career that were not covered in the first installment.

“There is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalogue that were not touched upon in the first film,” he said.

He also suggested the sequel may move “forwards and backwards” through different periods of Jackson’s life instead of following a strictly chronological structure.

Michael Jackson died in 2009 at the age of 50 after suffering cardiac arrest linked to the anaesthetic propofol.

The first biopic has reportedly performed strongly commercially, becoming one of the highest-grossing music biopics since Bohemian Rhapsody.