Studio Boss Hints at Possible Michael Jackson Film Franchise

The recent success of the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” has sparked early discussions about turning the project into a full film series.

The movie has opened strongly at the global box office, earning around 217 million dollars in its debut. That figure puts it ahead of previous records for music biopics, including “Oppenheimer,” which opened at about 174 million dollars worldwide in 2023. The numbers were reported by Variety.

Even though the film had a strong start, it was also expensive to make. Reports say the total budget is close to 200 million dollars, which includes additional reshoots during production. Still, the early box office performance suggests it will likely make a profit during its theatrical run.

The story in the current film focuses mainly on Michael Jackson’s early career and stops around the time of his “Bad” tour in the late 1980s. It does not include later parts of his life or the legal controversies that surrounded him. This choice has led to some criticism, with claims of “whitewashing” being mentioned in public discussion.

Some voices connected to the film have already suggested the story could continue. Actor Colman Domingo, who plays Jackson’s father Joe, has previously spoken about the idea of a follow-up film that could explore later events.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson also spoke about the possibility of expanding the story. In comments reported by Business Insider, he said, “Look, there’s at least one more movie.” He explained that a longer approach could allow the team to tell a more complete version of Jackson’s life story instead of fitting everything into one film.

Reports from Variety also say that earlier versions of the movie included scenes set during the early 1990s, including moments involving police activity at Neverland Ranch. These scenes were later removed before release. According to the same report, legal restrictions tied to past agreements played a role in cutting certain material during production.

Because of those changes, the film went through reshoots that cost around 15 million dollars and also delayed its release. The production changes were significant enough that the ending was rewritten. In the final cut, the story stays focused on Jackson’s music career and his relationship with his father, rather than later legal issues.

Business Insider reports that Lionsgate executives have not confirmed any sequel yet, but they have not ruled it out either. Any future films would depend on decisions from the creative team, including the producer, director, and writer involved in the current project.

Fogelson also said, “From my perspective, it’s important to try to give the audience an authentic understanding of who Michael Jackson was,” adding that this could be done with or without material that was removed from the original version.

The idea of turning a biopic into a multi-film series is risky. It can give more space to tell a full story, but it also raises questions about what gets included or left out. With a figure like Michael Jackson, those choices become even more sensitive. What do you think? Should his life be told across multiple films, or should it stay as one complete movie? Share your thoughts in the comments.