Good news for fans who have been waiting for Michael 2. There have been talks about the highly anticipated sequel for months after the first film became a box-office hit worldwide. According to the latest update, Lionsgate has finally revealed that Michael 2 will begin production in late 2026 or early 2027.
The exciting update came following Lionsgate’s fiscal Q1 2027 earnings call, which took place on August 6, 2026. Although the exact date has yet to be announced, Deadline confirmed that the studio is targeting production to begin in the coming months. Subsequently, the sequel could potentially be released in 2027 or early 2028.
However, it is important to note that Michael 2 will not exactly start from zero, as there is already existing material that could contribute to the upcoming production. According to The Guardian, Lionsgate chairman Adam Fogelson previously explained that around 25% to 30% of the sequel was already shot during the first production.
However, at that time, it was not meant for a second movie; rather, the first film was initially much longer than the final theatrical cut. ScreenCrush reports that, at one point, Michael stretched to four hours, delving further into MJ’s life. It was ultimately cut shorter following the legal issue over the depiction of the 1993 allegations.
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While the original cut of the first movie planned to cover the controversy, a legal settlement involving the King of Pop and Jordan Chandler made it difficult. As a result, some of the material had to be reshot in June 2025, creating a delay in the movie’s release.
Michael Production Faced Many Hurdles
Since the announcement, the first production faced several hurdles, which ultimately delayed the release. The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike directly affected the production, which then began in January 2024.
The original release date also changed multiple times. Initially, the studio planned for an April 18, 2025 theatrical release, which was later moved to October 3, 2025. Then, the schedule changed again, and ultimately, Michael arrived in U.S. theaters on April 24, 2026.
Despite the many obstacles and changes in plans, the movie became a box-office success. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie accumulated around $372.3 million in domestic and $643.8 million in international earnings. Given MJ’s status as a global artist, when Michael 2 arrives, we can predict a similar or even bigger worldwide success.
What Could We See in Michael 2?
Michael ended around the 1988 Bad Tour, so we hope that the sequel would continue from there, not necessarily linearly. Fogelson mentioned that there are a lot of important events, like MJ’s 1993 Super Bowl halftime show, and music that were not covered in the first film. One of his biggest career peaks was the Dangerous musical era, followed by a world tour, which were not shown in the first film. Fans could also expect the sequel to explore his family life, later years of his career, and relationship with the media.
However, there are some new concerns about Michael 2 after the on-screen MJ, Jaafar Jackson, was confirmed for Supermax just a few days ago. The Will Smith-starrer action thriller is set to begin production in August. While there is no evidence that it would disrupt Michael 2 production, it could create a scheduling consideration for the studio.
If everything goes as planned, Michael 2 might hit theaters in late 2027.
