Michael Jackson Biopic Could Become a Franchise, Studio Boss Hints

A possible Michael Jackson film series may be in the works after the strong box office debut of the latest biopic about the late singer.

The film “Michael” has reportedly earned around 217 million dollars worldwide on its opening, making it the biggest global debut ever for a music biopic. That puts it ahead of earlier records, including “Oppenheimer,” which opened with about 174 million dollars globally in 2023. These figures were reported by Variety.

Despite its strong start, the production was expensive, with a reported budget close to 200 million dollars. This includes additional costs from reshoots. However, the film is still expected to become profitable based on its early performance.

The movie has also faced criticism for leaving out major parts of Michael Jackson’s life, especially later controversies. According to reports, the story ends around the time of his “Bad” tour in the late 1980s and does not cover later legal accusations involving child abuse claims. Jackson’s estate has continued to deny these allegations.

Speaking to Business Insider, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson said the studio is open to continuing the story beyond one film. He suggested that more movies could help give a fuller picture of the singer’s life.

He said, “Look, there’s at least one more movie.” He also added that a multi-film approach could allow a more complete version of Jackson’s story without being limited to a single release.

Reports from Variety also state that earlier versions of the film were planned to include scenes from the 1990s, including moments tied to investigations at Neverland Ranch. Those scenes were not included in the final version. The same report said legal concerns connected to past agreements involving accusers led to major changes during production.

Because of those changes, the film went through expensive reshoots costing around 15 million dollars, which also delayed its release. The production company behind the film reportedly covered those costs, and now holds a financial stake in the project.

The final version of the movie focuses mainly on Jackson’s rise in music and his relationship with his father, rather than later legal issues.

According to Business Insider, Lionsgate has not confirmed a sequel, but executives have said future films could explore other parts of Jackson’s life if the creative team decides to continue the story.

Turning a biopic into a full franchise is a bold move, especially when the subject is as complex as Michael Jackson. It could help tell a fuller story, but it also raises questions about what gets included or left out. What do you think about the idea of multiple films for one person’s life story? Should studios expand it into a franchise or keep it to one movie? Share your thoughts in the comments.