For those who feel the Michael biopic shouldn’t stop til you get enough, a bit of good news is on the horizon. The highly anticipated sequel is set to begin production toward the end of this year, or early next, according to Deadline.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Adam Fogelson announced the update, adding that a premiere date for the film would most likely fall between the end of 2027 and the first half of 2028.
It was recently announced that Jaafar Jackson, who portrays his uncle in Michael, has joined the cast of Supermax, a new action thriller from Amazon MGM Studios and Miramax. The film, which also stars Will Smith, is set to shoot in Australia starting mid-month, giving Jaafar plenty of time to return to the Michael sequel set by year’s end.
@aktheref 🎤 Michael Part 2 just got a huge update! Production is expected to begin later this year or early 2027, and I couldn’t be more excited. There’s still so much of Michael Jackson’s story left to tell. What moment do you hope they include? #MichaelJackson #MichaelMovie #MJForever #MJ #AKTheRef ♬ original sound – AKTHEREF
Fan reaction is palpable — and comes with notes. There are wish lists of the songs they want to hear and the life moments that must be included. Across social conversations, viewers want to see the sequel dig into Michael’s Dangerous era, which included Jackson’s historic 1993 Super Bowl halftime performance and that unforgettable entrance atop the stadium’s massive video screens. Footage from this era was reportedly shot during Michael‘s original production and could make its way into the second film.
@director_ray_ray MICHEAL 2 NEEDS these songs… no debate! 👀🎤🔥 #michaeljackson #michaelmovie #filmtok #movietalk #movietok ♬ original sound – mjfangirl07
People want to learn more about his marriages to Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe and his life as a father. More reenactments with famous friends like Elizabeth Taylor and Chris Tucker are also in demand. One Reddit user wants the film to focus on his lifelong humanitarian work. And plenty of fans are already demanding one thing in particular: call the movie Jackson.
Some fans — mainly critics — are also asking for a more mature, less sanitized second chapter that explores Michael’s loneliness, his battles with the press and the legal controversies that became part of his later life. One chapter, however, remains particularly complicated to depict: the 1993 allegations involving Jordan Chandler. A provision in Jackson’s 1994 settlement reportedly prevents Chandler from being depicted or mentioned in certain film projects connected to the Jackson estate, a restriction that forced filmmakers to scrap an entire storyline from the first movie.
Michael, Antoine Fuqua’s biopic of the King of Pop that opened this past April, has proven that biopics about famed Black artists are not only critical, but lucrative business. The film pulled in an estimated $217 million globally in its opening weekend, including $97 million domestically and $120.4 million internationally, marking the biggest global debut for a music biopic ever.
Viewers have reveled in Jaafar’s performance and the compassion he pours into his portrayal of his uncle. In a past interview with EBONY, he spoke about honoring Michael with care and intention. That commitment helped propel the film past the $1 billion mark in July 2026, which means fans clearly want more of the man in the mirror.
Michael is currently available to rent or buy digitally on platforms including Prime Video and Apple TV. Beginning August 10, the film will also be available to stream with a Starz subscription.