Picture: Lionsgate/Everett Assortment
Michael, the critically reviled new biopic of Michael Jackson, solely covers the star’s life as much as 1988. Spoilers for Michael, however Jackson continued residing previous that date. The movie ends with a “His Story Continues” title card, as if James Bond teasing Skyfall. However will Michael Jackson really return in a second film?
Michael was initially set to return out in April 2025, however the movie reportedly needed to reshoot the whole third act. Fuqua’s imaginative and prescient for the movie ended with Jackson combating the kid intercourse abuse allegations that outlined his later public picture — particularly these introduced by the Chandler household in 1993. Puck mentioned the Chandlers have been depicted as “money-grubbing,” after they contractually aren’t allowed to be depicted in any respect. Within the ‘90s, the household signed a settlement that prohibits the dramatization of their story, one thing the Jackson property apparently forgot. After the reshoots, producers pushed to separate Michael into two movies. It’s unclear whether or not the footage for the second half will ever see the sunshine of day, nevertheless.
Based on The Hollywood Reporter, the “His Story Continues” title card was added to Michael late within the recreation. It appears stakeholders are nonetheless weighing the cost-benefit evaluation of whether or not Michael 2 is value pursuing. Reportedly on the Professional aspect is director Antoine Fuqua, who at all times imagined his Michael to be extra dramatic. “I shot him being stripped bare, handled like an animal, a monster,” he instructed The New Yorker of the scenes he shot of the Neverland raid.
Colman Domingo appears to be extra on the fence. The actor, who performs Jackson patriarch Joe mentioned on Immediately that “We don’t know but” if there’s a sequel. “The movie takes place from the ’60s to 1988, so it doesn’t go into the primary allegations,” he mentioned when requested about omitting the allegations in opposition to Jackson. “And there’s a chance of there being a component two which will cope with another issues that occurred afterwards.” Nia Lengthy, who performs Jackson’s mom, was extra mercenary: “There might be,” she joked, “if the worth is correct.”
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