The head of the Lionsgate studio has already approved a sequel for Michael
“There is at least one other film to be made…” The biopic dedicated to Michael Jackson should continue with a second part which would explore the second part of the life of the King of Pop.
The numbers are impressive.
Michael will be one of the biggest hits of the year. One of the biggest successes in the history of the Lionsgate studio too. So why do without a sequel?
Present at CinemaCon, Adam Fogelson, boss of Lionsgate, confirmed that a second part telling the rest of the life of Michael Jackson was indeed in the pipeline.
“Look, there’s at least one more movie to be made…” he blurted out, even evoking the idea of a franchise.
Because Michaeldirected by Antoine Fuqua and carried by Jaafar Jackson, ends at the end of the 1980s. So there are still many, many things to tell about his life. Originally, the film was to show the search of the Neverland Ranch in 1993, after the accusations of Jordan Chandler, then 13 years old. But the teams discovered a clause in the agreement signed with Chandler, prohibiting any representation of this affair in cinema. The result: massive reshoots (around $15 million) and a final version that completely avoided accusations of sexual abuse against Jackson. A turning point which reinforces the vision of Fogelson, who believes that it is better to make two (or three) feature films than a single long biopic, as Fuqua had initially planned:
“Speaking less as a Lionsgate employee and more as someone who has spent a lot of time in the movie industry, I’ve always been excited that Michael’s story could be told more fully and satisfyingly if we weren’t limited to just one movie.“
The sequel could thus tackle broader sections of the star’s life, between peak and fall. The executive supports the idea, provided producer Graham King, director Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan decide to pursue it.
“From my perspective, it’s important to try to give the public an authentic understanding of who Michael Jackson was.“
By addressing the gray areas of the King of Pop? How to make a Michael 2 which continues to generate strong enthusiasm among fans and the public, if the story abandons the glitter to sink into business? The Lionsgate puzzle has only just begun.
