Lionsgate Confirms 'Michael 2' in Development With Substantial Footage Already Completed

The success of the Michael Jackson biopic has paved the way for a continuation. Lionsgate is moving forward with a sequel to the acclaimed first film, which chronicled Jackson's rise from his days as a child performer in The Jackson 5 through the launch of his solo career.

Lionsgate Studios Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson shared details about the project's development during the studio's earnings call. He indicated that negotiations with relevant parties have progressed smoothly, signaling strong momentum behind the sequel.

"All the conversations that we've been having with all of the appropriate parties continue to go exceptionally well, and I would say that there is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalog that were not touched upon in the first film," Fogelson stated.

The sequel will have flexibility in its narrative scope. Rather than simply moving forward chronologically, the filmmakers can explore events and moments that occurred during the timeframe of the original movie but weren't included in the final cut. This approach opens up significant storytelling possibilities while drawing from Jackson's extensive catalog of music and life events.

"We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story. There are so many other events that happened, even in the time frame of the original movie, that weren't touched upon. So we're very, very confident that we've got an incredibly entertaining movie that will appeal once again to a global audience as the pieces come together," Fogelson explained.

A substantial portion of the sequel is already in the can. During the original film's production, extensive footage was captured that didn't make it into the theatrical release. Lionsgate intends to repurpose this material for the follow-up.

Fogelson revealed that "25% to 30% of a second movie [is] already shot from the prior production activity, and so obviously that will have some benefit ultimately. But we'll make sure we make a big and satisfying movie for a global audience once again, so I wouldn't want to quantify exactly what that's going to look like. But undoubtedly that 25% to 30% will be material."

Jaafar Jackson, the late singer's real-life nephew, earned widespread praise for his portrayal in the original Michael film, which has become a box office success globally.