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The Michael Jackson biopic "Michael," helmed by "The Equalizer" series director Antoine Fuqua, has been fraught with challenges. Reports previously indicated that the entire third act, which delves into the "child molestation lawsuit" events, had to be reshot due to legal restrictions. Subsequently, news emerged that the film would be split into two parts, with the first installment's release date pushed back. This past Thursday, Lionsgate officially confirmed the delay, moving the premiere from October 3rd of this year to April 26th of next year.
Regarding the film itself, the latest rumors suggest that "Michael," originally a four-hour epic, has been cut down to approximately two hours. Numerous in-depth, controversial, and sensitive segments have been heavily edited, making the overall production more streamlined, commercial, and broadly appealing. The ending is reportedly similar to producer Graham King's previous music biopic, "Bohemian Rhapsody," concluding with a concert sequence.
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"Michael" was initially conceived as a single, comprehensive biopic intended to cover Jackson's entire life story. However, with the sudden need to reshoot the third act, the latter half detailing Michael's experiences in the 1990s had to be excised. This prompted Lionsgate and Graham King to significantly restructure the narrative. The first part will now conclude with Michael at the peak of his career in the late 1980s, with a potential sequel picking up the story from there.
The new storyline for a second installment has not yet officially begun filming; only new footage required after the extensive cuts to the first part has been reshot. Graham King is still advocating for a sequel, and its realization will likely hinge on the first film's box office performance. Notably, the production cost for the first part alone has already exceeded $150 million, an exceptionally high budget for a biopic.
Matt Belloni, a reporter for "Puck News," revealed that if plans proceed smoothly, a second film could commence principal photography in mid-2026, targeting a 2027 release.
via： Puck News World of Reel