With Michael earning more than $217 million globally in its opening weekend, talk of a sequel is already building. That includes the biopic’s director, Antoine Fuqua, who confirmed in an interview with Billboard that the production originally filmed several years of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the point where the movie ends, with the Jacksons’ Victory Tour.
Of course, any sequel to this story can’t just chase the highs. It has to confront the more complex and controversial sides of Michael’s life, from the accusations to his reinvention, and ultimately, his untimely death. It’s a story that gets darker, more complicated, and harder to tell.
Here are five must-have moments in Michael Jackson’s life that would need to be included in a Michael sequel to tell the whole story.
Michael’s Bad Era
Beginning in the mid-1980s, Jackson entered a new phase in his creative journey. He released Bad in 1987, revealing an edgier side of his artistry. Donning his signature look, black leather embellished with buckles and studs, Jackson delivered five No. 1 hits from the album, including “Man in the Mirror.”
He also launched his first solo world tour, the Bad World Tour. Running from 1987 to early 1989, it featured the now-iconic hydraulic lift opening that launched him onto the stage in a frozen pose, triggering hysteria and fans fainting across the globe.
The Allegations Commence
The title of his hit album would be unfortunate foreboding. In 1993, Jackson was accused of sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy. A civil lawsuit followed, alleging sexual battery, seduction, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Authorities searched Neverland Ranch, but no criminal charges were filed at the time. The case was settled out of court in 1994. Still, it marked the beginning of a series of allegations that would shadow Jackson for the rest of his life. This accuser’s name can never be mentioned in any dramatization of Jackson’s life.
Michael’s “Reinvention”
Determined to regain control of his narrative, Jackson shifted both his public and private life. In 1994, he married Lisa Marie Presley. A year later, he released HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, widely seen as a response to media scrutiny, featuring songs like “They Don’t Care About Us” and “Scream” with his sister Janet Jackson.
He became a father in 1997 with the birth of his first child, Prince, with Debbie Rowe, and welcomed two more children in the years that followed. This period marked a more introspective chapter for Jackson, whose appearance changed radically over the years.
The Documentary That Damned
Living with Michael Jackson, a 2003 documentary featuring unprecedented access, showed Jackson speaking candidly about his childhood, fame, and relationships with children, while maintaining he had never harmed any of them. Most likely intended to humanize him, the documentary instead reignited scrutiny. Soon after, Jackson was charged with multiple counts related to child molestation and administering alcohol to a minor. In 2005, he was acquitted on all counts.
Michael’s Untimely Death
Jackson was preparing for a comeback residency, This Is It, but never made it to the London stage. He died on June 25, 2009, at age 50 from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication; his death was ruled a homicide. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 for administering the drugs at Jackson’s home.
Any second act of Michael Jackson’s life can’t just be about music. It has to be about how a global icon became one of the most scrutinized figures in modern history. But Fuqua has stated he’d be upset if anyone else did it.
Michael is now playing in theaters.