Lionsgate has announced that Michael 2 is already a quarter filmed and is set to be released in 2027
Lionsgate’s film chief outlined the timeline during Thursday’s earnings call and confirmed that a significant portion of the sequel is already completed.
Lionsgate is aiming for late 2026 or early 2027 to commence filming Michael 2, with the sequel to the billion-dollar Michael Jackson biopic expected to be released in theaters by the end of 2027 or in the first half of 2028. Adam Fogelson, chairman of the studio’s Motion Picture Group, provided the update on Thursday during Lionsgate’s quarterly earnings call, a routine meeting where a public company reviews its financials with Wall Street analysts and addresses inquiries about future developments. Studios utilize those calls to reveal hints about upcoming projects, and this particular one focused entirely on the King of Pop.
“We aim to begin production toward the end of this year or early next year,” Fogelson stated, further noting that “the end of calendar ’27 and the first half of calendar ’28 are currently considered the timeframe for the movie’s release.” He also emphasized that the studio has some surprises in store, stating they are “not ready to announce everything at the moment.”
Here is the section that should indicate the actual speed at which this device can operate. During the May earnings call, Fogelson mentioned that Lionsgate has already completed 25 to 30 percent of filming for a second movie stemming from the first production. On Thursday, he revisited the matter. “We have several sequences, especially some significant musical ones, that were filmed earlier and are likely to be included,” he stated. Michael 2 is not beginning with a clean slate. Some of the most costly elements in a music biopic, including the full-scale performance numbers with choreography, the crowds, the wardrobe, and the lighting, have already been filmed and are ready for use.
The existing footage is a result of the chaos that unfolded during the production of the first movie. Michael was initially set for November 2025 but was postponed to April 2026 due to a legal issue that arose late in production. Attorneys representing the Jackson estate found that a previous settlement with one of the singer’s accusers contained a clause prohibiting his portrayal in any film. The sequence had already been filmed. As reported by Deadline, the discovery led to approximately $50 million in reshoots, funded by the Jackson estate, and the film’s third act was entirely reconstructed with a new conclusion.
The outcome of all that rewriting is a film that concludes in 1987, during the Bad tour, and ends with the phrase “His Story Continues” displayed on screen. That occurred several years prior to the initial public allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson, which he denied throughout his life and that his estate continues to refute. The initial film left that whole chapter unaddressed. Whether Michael 2 approaches it remains an unanswered question at Lionsgate, and considering who holds the rights and financed those reshoots, it is reasonable to believe that the estate has a significant viewpoint on the matter.
What remains on the table, apart from the controversy, is substantial. The perilous age. Unassailable. The construction of Neverland. The HIStory tour. Fogelson mentioned in May that “there is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson stories, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalog that were not touched upon in the first film,” adding that the studio “can go forwards and backwards in telling this story.” The sequel does not need to follow a direct path from the conclusion of the first one. They have the ability to return to the timeline of the original movie and elaborate on what was omitted.
The funds clarify the pressing nature of the situation. Michael opened on April 24 and surpassed $1 billion worldwide, marking it as the first Lionsgate release to achieve this milestone and the highest-grossing biopic in history. That amounts to Bohemian Rhapsody money and even more. Antoine Fuqua took on the role of director, while Graham King served as the producer. The script was crafted by John Logan, and Jaafar Jackson, who is Michael’s real-life nephew, starred in his first significant screen performance. Nia Long and Colman Domingo are also featured in the cast. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer expressed it clearly during the May call: “We believe there is a lot more story to tell and a lot more music to share.”
The single figure Fogelson would not consider was the budget for Michael 2. “Our primary focus at the moment is ensuring that we can deliver the largest and most exceptional sequel at the right price,” he stated. “That is what the audience will seek and merit following the experience we provided them the first time.” At this time, we are not prepared to provide guidance on the budget; however, we will definitely be able to utilize some material that we have previously filmed.
Interpreting the nuances, the pre-shot footage is presented as a financial benefit, which is significant given that the initial film was notoriously costly even before the reshoots took place. Lionsgate aims to convey to investors that the sequel is already positioned for success from the outset.
Casting and story details remain unannounced, and the studio has yet to formally confirm which cast members will return. However, it is widely anticipated that Jaafar Jackson will reprise his role, considering the conclusion of the first film and the footage that has already been filmed. He has also been occupied with other projects, recently securing a role in an action thriller featuring Will Smith at Amazon MGM.
At present, the calendar takes center stage in the news. Cameras will be installed within approximately six months. Theaters in the next two years. And a studio holding onto a quarter of a film it has already financed.
