MOVIE NEWS – After Michael surpassed $1 billion worldwide, Lionsgate accelerated work on the second chapter and is now aiming for a release between late 2027 and the first half of 2028. Production could begin in late 2026 or early 2027, while several musical sequences intended for the continuation were already filmed during the first movie.

Antoine Fuqua’s musical biopic has pushed the genre into unprecedented territory. Michael crossed the billion-dollar mark at the global box office and became the highest-grossing music biopic ever released. Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, made his feature-film breakthrough in the title role, delivering a performance widely regarded as one of the project’s greatest strengths.

The first movie follows Jackson from his Jackson 5 years through the rise of his solo career, before stopping during the 1988 Bad World Tour at Wembley Stadium. Its final moments were deliberately structured as a bridge to what comes next, closing with the on-screen promise “His Story Continues…” rather than presenting the film as a fully self-contained biography.

Lionsgate is moving the follow-up forward quickly

The studio officially confirmed in May that the second installment was in development. Following the enormous commercial performance of the first movie, preparations now appear to be moving at a faster pace. Cameras are currently expected to roll in late 2026 or early 2027, although Antoine Fuqua’s availability remains an important factor in the final timetable. He is expected to return, but the exact production start still depends on aligning his schedule with the rest of the shoot.

If that plan holds, Michael 2 could reach theaters in late 2027 or during the first half of 2028. This remains a target window rather than an official release date, and the sequel’s final title, specific premiere day, and complete cast have not yet been announced.

A substantial portion of the sequel is already in the can

The project has one major advantage over a conventional sequel: roughly 25–30 percent of the second chapter was filmed alongside the first movie. Much of that existing material consists of elaborate musical sequences that can be incorporated into the continuation. Reusing those scenes should shorten the remaining shoot and help keep the production budget under control.

The next film is expected to move into the later phase of Michael Jackson’s life, picking up after the first chapter’s 1988 endpoint. While Lionsgate has not yet disclosed the exact period the story will cover, the ending of Michael and the footage already completed make it clear that this is being treated as the second half of a biography planned in two parts, rather than a sequel invented only after the original became a hit.

Source: MovieWeb

We reviewed Michael in detail here.