Lionsgate Boss Talks Michael 2, Highlights 1 Big Obstacle

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson mapped out the road ahead for the Michael franchise. However, one significant hurdle could slow the sequel’s moonwalk to the screen.

Michael 2 gets new update from Adam Fogelson

Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson provided a major update on the Michael sequel during an appearance on Matt Belloni’s The Town podcast.

Fogelson confirmed the sequel is moving forward following the biopic’s record-breaking $218 million worldwide opening weekend. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the late King of Pop, covers Jackson’s life only through the Bad tour in the late 1980s.

Fogelson emphasized that Jackson’s post-1988 career provides more than enough material for a follow-up film. “There is a massive amount of music… and life experiences separate and apart from allegations… that would fill more than a second movie on its own,” Fogelson said. He pointed to landmark moments like Jackson’s iconic Super Bowl halftime performance and the Bad album as potential focal points for the sequel.

The Lionsgate chief acknowledged that the sequel’s timeline remains uncertain due to scheduling conflicts. Fuqua has a Netflix project with Denzel Washington lined up for the summer, while producer Graham King is juggling multiple projects. “We haven’t yet gotten to the moment where we have to solve for anything,” Fogelson said. Belloni raised the possibility of King directing the sequel, but Fogelson said those conversations have not concluded.

Fogelson also addressed the thorny question of whether the sequel would engage with the sexual abuse allegations that defined Jackson’s later years. “It’s a really complicated question, and I’m not sure I think that I am the best person or now is the best time,” Fogelson said. He noted that the original screenplay addressed the allegations before a legal clause in the Chandler settlement forced their removal.

The chairman expressed confidence that Michael could ultimately reach the $700-800 million range globally, with a potential path to $1 billion.

Source: Comingsoon.net