Michael Might Just Be Getting a New Sequel, And Possibly an Entire Franchise

Entertainment
The Buzz Nepal
April 28 , 2026

It has barely been a week sinceMichael, the long-awaited biopic about the King of Pop, landed in cinemas worldwide, and it has already rewritten the record books. The film earned $217 million globally in its opening weekend, making it the biggest debut for a biopic of all time, surpassingOppenheimer‘sprevious record of $174 million from 2023. Numbers like that demand a response, and Lionsgate has delivered one loud and clear.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson confirmed plans for a sequel to Michael in an interview with Business Insider during CinemaCon, revealing his support for expanding the King of Pop’s story across multiple films. His words left little room for ambiguity. “Look, there’s at least one more movie,” Fogelson said, signaling that what fans just watched in cinemas is only the beginning of a much bigger story.

And there is plenty of story left to tell. The first film ended duringJackson’sBad tour in 1988, deliberately stopping before the controversial chapters of his later life. That was not always the plan. The original cut of Michael included a third act depicting the 1993 police search of Neverland Ranch, but those scenes had to be scrapped when the Jackson estate’s attorneys discovered a settlement clause with accuser Jordan Chandler that prohibited his depiction in any film. The discovery triggered $15 million worth of reshoots and a new ending, delaying the film’s release from April 2025 to spring 2026.

That decision, costly as it was, may have inadvertently set up a sequel better than any Hollywood screenwriter could have planned. Around 30 percent of the footage initially shot for Michael went unused, some of which could potentially be incorporated into a follow-up film. The movie also ends with a title card reading “His Story Continues,” which in hindsight feels less like a vague artistic choice and more like a very deliberate promise to audiences.

The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars Jaafar Jackson as his late uncle. Jaafar’s performance has been one of the most talked-about elements of the film since its premiere, with audiences marveling at how completely he inhabits the role of a man whose every move, gesture, and vocal performance the world already knows by heart. A sequel with the same director, writer, and star already in place would have a significant head start.

Fogelson made clear that the creative team’s appetite matters as much as the commercial case. He said he supports the idea if producer Graham King, director Antoine Fuqua, and writer John Logan choose to explore it, adding that from his perspective it is important to give audiences an authentic understanding of who Michael Jackson truly was.

For fans in Nepal, Michael is currently screening atmajor cinema hallsacross the country. If the global buzz is anything to go by, tickets are not going to stay available for long. And if Lionsgate gets its way, this will not be the last time you find yourself sitting in a darkened cinema watching Jaafar Jackson moonwalk across the screen.

His story continues. And apparently, so does the franchise.