Overview
- Lionsgate told investors on Thursday, May 21 that it is actively working on a second Michael Jackson film and that discussions with the estate and other parties are progressing well.
- Studio executives said roughly 25 to 30 percent of material that could be used for a sequel already exists from footage shot during the original production before late post‑production cuts.
- The first film’s original third act was removed after estate lawyers found a 1994 settlement clause tied to accuser Jordan Chandler that bars depiction or mention of him, forcing costly reshoots and shaping what the sequel can portray.
- Lionsgate suggested the sequel may use a non‑chronological approach to tell Jackson’s later story, giving producers a way to reuse existing scenes while navigating legal limits on certain events.
- Director Antoine Fuqua has expressed interest in returning but his schedule, including work on other films, is unresolved so casting and a production timeline remain unsettled and likely to shape how quickly the studio moves forward.