Jaafar Jackson Is Ready to Moonwalk Back Into 'Michael' Sequel

Few breakout stars have had a year like Jaafar Jackson’s. He had never acted professionally before landing the lead in a biopic about his late uncle, and then watched it become a worldwide phenomenon. Now the ‘Michael‘ sequel is the question hanging over Hollywood, and its leading man is weighing in.

Antoine Fuqua’s film opened on April 24, 2026, and debuted to $97.2 million domestically. It went on to become the first biopic to cross $1 billion at the worldwide box office and Lionsgate’s biggest release ever. Critics were mixed, though many praised Jackson’s performance as uncanny.

Lionsgate confirmed on May 21 that a sequel is in development, but no date has been set. And now Jackson is addressing where things stand. Speaking on Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, he told Variety that whatever decision is made, “I’m more than ready to get back into it.” He added that nothing concrete has been shared with him yet, no date and nothing solid, and that his schedule is open.

The studio has been more specific about timing than Jackson. Lionsgate motion picture chief Adam Fogelson has said production on the sequel could start at the end of this year or early next, with a release targeted for 2027 or 2028. He has also said the sequel is almost sure to incorporate several big musical sequences that were shot previously.

That’s significant because the first film had a famously turbulent journey. The original cut ran nearly four hours, and the film’s third act was scrapped after reportedly dealing with the abuse allegations from the early 1990s. The reshoots reportedly cost $15 million, and the finished film ends years before those events.

Rather than mourning the lost third act, Jackson sees the unused work as practice he can carry into another role. He says he prepared for about two years before knowing he had the part, building an archive of songs, demos, writings, journals, rehearsals and performances. That gave him far more to draw on than Michael Jackson’s famous public gestures.

He also tells the story of sending producer Graham King an unsolicited message in Michael’s voice, after which King arranged coaching the next day. On the direction of the sequel, Jackson says that’s not his decision. Part two, he indicated, is a question for the people making the calls.

His story begins. The official trailer for MICHAEL – in theaters and IMAX April 24. https://t.co/DfGJNcuXU2
— Michael (@michaelmovie) February 2, 2026

The sequel talk comes as Jackson’s profile keeps rising. He debuted at the Met Gala in May in a black velvet Polo Ralph Lauren suit, and he has been a fixture at events like the Academy Museum Gala this month. Variety noted he’s now in the Best Actor conversation alongside Ryan Gosling, Pedro Pascal, Matt Damon and John Malkovich.

Jackson called that an honor and said it inspires him to challenge himself in more ways. He said he’ll support the film in whatever way the studio needs. He also revealed that he wrote down goals two years before filming began, including beating ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and crossing the billion-dollar mark, and that hitting that mark left him pretty emotional.

Jackson isn’t sitting idle while the sequel is sorted out. He spoke to Variety just two days after wrapping ‘Supermax’ opposite Will Smith, following 40 days of shooting in Australia. The role involves no singing or dancing, a major change after his debut, which was built around his uncle’s recognizable voice and movement.

That versatility could matter. Stepping into a completely different character gives him a chance to show range beyond the King of Pop. It also keeps his options open while Lionsgate finalizes its plans.

For fans, the big question is what the second film will cover. The first film ends at the peak of Michael’s career in the late 1980s, and the sequel is expected to move into later chapters of his life. How it handles the more complicated material that the first film avoided remains the biggest unknown.

Jackson isn’t giving details, but he’s clearly eager. For now, the pieces are falling into place: a billion-dollar hit, a confirmed sequel, footage already in the can and a star ready to return. All that’s missing is a start date.