Filming for Michael 2 begins in early 2027, with a release date before mid-2028

Preparations have officially begun for the second part of the film “Michael,” just months after the first installment became one of the biggest box office surprises of 2026, grossing over $1 billion worldwide and setting a new record as the highest-grossing biographical film in cinema history. Adam Fogelson, head of the film group at Lionsgate, revealed during the company’s financial results announcement conference that the studio aims to begin filming Michael 2 in early 2027, with a view to releasing it in theaters by the end of next year or during the first half of 2028. He added that the company is currently focused on delivering the biggest and best sequel to meet audience expectations following the extraordinary success of the first film. The announcement came less than four months after the release of the first part, directed by Antoine Fuca from a screenplay by John Logan, and starring Jaafar Jackson, nephew of Michael Jackson, in his cinematic debut. The film follows the journey of the King of Pop from his years with the Jackson 5, through the peak of his global success with the Bad album and his 1987 world tour, before concluding with the phrase “the story continues,” clearly indicating that the biography will not end there. The film achieved not only commercial success but also set a series of records. It opened with worldwide gross earnings of $217 million, including $97 million in the United States and Canada and $120.4 million in international markets, marking the biggest opening in the history of musical biographical films. The film continued its upward trajectory, surpassing the $1 billion mark, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody, and then exceeding the earnings of Oppenheimer to become the highest-grossing biographical film in cinema history, and the first production in the history of the producing company to reach this milestone. Despite this commercial success, the film sparked widespread debate due to its focus solely on Michael Jackson’s artistic rise, avoiding the more controversial periods of his life.