The upcoming biographical drama Michael is one of the most ambitious biopics ever attempted. It will chronicle the life of Michael Jackson, and his nephew Jaafar Jackson will star as the King of Pop himself. But the road to release hasn’t been smooth at all, as Michael underwent rewrites, reshoots, and many other troubles (via Variety).
Early versions of the script included darker chapters of the singer’s life, but they couldn’t make it to the final cut. So, let’s see why that’s the case and whether a sequel for Michael is possible. Here’s an overview of the film:
Key Facts About:MichaelDirected By:Antoine FuquaCast:Jaafar Jackson, Miles Teller, Nia LongGenre:Musical/MusicRelease Date:April 24, 2026
Why Did Michael Cut Some of Its Most Important Scenes?
One of the biggest revelations about Michael is that the film had a very different third act. In its early drafts, the movie opened with a sequence set in 1993, when allegations against Michael Jackson surfaced. The scene featured investigators arriving at Neverland Ranch, signaling a turning point in his public image and personal life (via Variety).
However, these moments were removed, and the reason wasn’t creative but legal because attorneys representing the Jackson estate discovered a clause in a settlement agreement that prohibited any depiction or mention of Jackson’s accusers in any film.
And that’s precisely why production had to scrap large portions of the script and come up with an entirely new ending. They returned to production for 22 days to film an additional shoot, revised the third act, and expanded on earlier scenes. This cost them between $10 million and $15 million, and the timeline shifted dramatically, with the April 2025 release delayed and finally landing in spring 2026.
Will Michael Get a Sequel? It All Depends on Box Office Success
Jafaar Jackson in a still from Michael | Credits: Lionsgate
Even before Michael debuts on the big screen, there have been discussions about having more installments. They have enough material on Michael Jackson’s life to expand the story into sequels, and the idea is straightforward: if Michael performs well, they will explore later chapters of the pop star’s career (via Variety).
According to internal projections, the movie needs to gross roughly $700 million to justify this decision. Early tracking suggests a strong opening weekend that could exceed $55 million. The future of a potential franchise is still uncertain, but would you be interested in seeing Jackson’s story continue in a full-blown film series?
Michael is set to release in theaters on April 24, 2026 (USA).
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