The sequel to "Michael" now has a timeline. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chairman Adam Fogelson confirmed during the studio's latest earnings call that production on "Michael 2" is targeted to begin toward the end of 2026 or in early 2027, with a theatrical release expected by late 2027 or in the first half of 2028.
The update comes months after JubileeCast reported the sequel's official greenlight, following the record-breaking success of the first film, which crossed $1 billion worldwide after its April 2026 release to become the highest-grossing music biopic ever. Fogelson also revealed that several big musical sequences filmed for the original but left out of the final cut are "almost sure to be incorporated" into the follow-up, meaning some of the sequel's footage already exists.
Antoine Fuqua directed the first film, which followed Michael Jackson's journey from The Jackson 5 to global superstardom and closed with the words "His Story Continues" at the 1987 "Bad" World Tour. Jaafar Jackson, the singer's real-life nephew, is expected to reprise the role, having earned widespread attention for his uncanny portrayal in the original.
It remains unclear exactly which chapter of Jackson's life "Michael 2" will cover, though the years following 1987 include both his commercial peak with the "Dangerous" era and more difficult chapters that the first film left largely untouched. Lionsgate has not yet confirmed a formal release date.
For fans who found the first film's story of talent, family, and public scrutiny compelling, the sequel's real test will be whether it can portray the fuller arc of a complicated life - the triumphs and the failures alike - with honesty rather than spectacle.
Related Article: 'Michael' Sequel Officially Greenlit as Franchise Plans Expand
