‘Michael’ Sequel Has No Date, But Jaafar Jackson’s Calendar Is Wide Open

Few films in recent memory have defied expectations quite like ‘Michael’. Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic opened on April 24 to box office projections of a modest $65 million to $70 million, then went on to rewrite the record books.

By July 12, the film had crossed $1 billion worldwide, becoming the first biopic ever to reach that milestone and Lionsgate’s biggest release in history. Along the way, it overtook ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as the top-grossing music biopic and passed ‘Oppenheimer’ to claim the all-time biopic crown.

At the center of that success is Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s nephew, who had never acted professionally before taking on the lead role. He spent 2 years preparing before officially landing the part, building his own archive of songs, demos and performances while training with acting coach Angela Gibbs.

Remarkably, Jackson had written down a list of goals years earlier, including beating ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and crossing $1 billion at the global box office. He has since become part of the awards conversation for his performance

Now, the actor has addressed where things stand with the highly anticipated sequel. Speaking on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Jackson told Variety, “I haven’t been told anything concrete, but whatever decision is made, I’m more than ready to get back into it and excited for where that goes.”

His story begins. The official trailer for MICHAEL – in theaters and IMAX April 24. https://t.co/DfGJNcuXU2
— Michael (@michaelmovie) February 2, 2026

He added that he hasn’t received a start date or any solid plans yet, but made it clear that his schedule is open. Jackson also noted that the creative direction for the next chapter isn’t his decision to make, emphasizing that his job is simply to come prepared.

Jackson sat down for the interview just 2 days after wrapping his second film, ‘Supermax’, in which he stars opposite Will Smith. He spent around 40 days shooting in Australia, a big change after filming all of ‘Michael’ in Los Angeles. He described the experience as a whole new adventure, with a new cast, a new crew, and a character completely different from his uncle.

The conversation also touched on one of the most talked-about aspects of the first film’s production. ‘Michael’ originally had a different third act that dealt with sensitive subject matter, but legal concerns raised by the Jackson estate led to that material being reshot.

Jackson reflected on what it was like to lose footage he had already performed. He explained that the shoot was massive and that, as many actors had warned him, a great deal of material never makes it into the final cut.

Lionsgate has been steadily moving toward a follow-up. Motion Picture Group Chairman Adam Fogelson has said the studio aims to begin production toward the end of 2026 or early 2027, with a release targeted between late 2027 and the first half of 2028.

Fogelson also revealed that some large musical sequences shot previously are almost certain to be incorporated into the sequel. The first film ended on the opening leg of the 1987 Bad World Tour, leaving plenty of story still to tell.

Who will direct remains an open question. Fuqua has said he would hate to see someone else take over, but Lionsgate has not confirmed his return, and he is also attached to a Hannibal biopic for Netflix.

Between a billion-dollar debut, awards buzz, and a second film already completed, Jackson’s first year as an actor has been nothing short of extraordinary. His eagerness to return suggests he is ready to carry the story of the King of Pop even further.