![\"Jaafar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777104551_640_0x0.jpg\")
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Jaafar Jackson ‘In “Michael.”<\/p>\n
Lionsgate\/Glen Wilson<\/p>\n
The long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic Michael is here, but will his story continue?<\/p>\n
After two delays in Michael\u2019s release date \u2014 it was originally set to premiere on April 18, 2025, before it was pushed Oct. 3, 2025 \u2014 Michael opened in international territories earlier this week before making its North American premiere on Friday. <\/p>\n
Forbes\u2018Michael\u2019 Rotten Tomatoes Reviews Splatter Michael Jackson BiopicBy Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n Starring Michael Jackson\u2019s nephew\/Jermaine Jackson\u2019s son, Jaafar, in the title role, the chronicle of the King of Pop\u2019s life tracks the singer as a 10-year-old (Juliano Valde) with The Jackson 5 through his tour supporting his Bad album in 1988.<\/p>\n After the final shot in the movie fades to black, a title card pops up that simply reads, \u201cHis Story Continues\u201d \u2014 an unmistakable tipoff that there is more Michael story to tell. \u201cHis Story,\u201d of course, is an obvious play on the title of Jackson\u2019s greatest hits album release, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, in June 1995.<\/p>\n The big question, of course, is whether the film will make enough money at the box office to justify a second big-screen chapter, a question that any studio, let alone Michael\u2019s<\/a> studio, Lionsgate, faces. <\/p>\n ForbesNew \u2018Scary Movie\u2019 Poster And Trailer Mock Michael Jackson AllegationsBy Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson told The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> at Michael\u2019s Los Angeles premiere on Monday, though, that there\u2019s another crucial element at play, which is the film\u2019s audience.<\/p>\n \u201cWe absolutely have more story to tell,\u201d Fogelson told THR. \u201cWe have prepared for that moment. And if the audience reinforces that they\u2019re ready for more, we\u2019re prepared to give it to them sooner rather than later.\u201d <\/p>\n Michael producer Graham King, who also produced the Best Picture Oscar-nominated Freddie Mercury and Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018, seems to be concentrating more on the now than he is on the future \u2014 but the idea of a Michael<\/a> sequel is definitely on his mind.<\/p>\n Forbes\u2018Michael\u2019: Bubbles The Chimp, Who Appears In Biopic, Is Alive And WellBy Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re definitely kicking around some ideas,\u201d King told THR on the Michael red carpet on Monday. \u201cWe\u2019ll see what happens very soon, but right now, I have so much anxiety about people seeing this one.\u201d<\/p>\n Making \u2018Michael\u2019 Profitable Will Be A Tall Order<\/p>\n Bringing the first part of Michael Jackson\u2019s<\/a> story to the big screen hasn\u2019t been cheap. According to Variety<\/a>, the film had a $200 million budget before marketing costs, partly because scenes including child molestation allegations against Jackson were cut from the film and a new ending needed to be shot.<\/p>\n Per The Hollywood Reporter, the scenes were much of the film\u2019s third act. As such, THR noted that \u201ca past accuser had reached a settlement with the estate guaranteeing he would never be depicted in any future commercial projects,\u201d so the film had to go back into production for 22 more days to film what audiences are seeing in the final cut.<\/p>\n ForbesRotten Tomatoes Critics Rank Top 10 Pop Music BiopicsBy Tim Lammers<\/a><\/p>\n At that point, according to THR, \u201ca plan was pushed to studio partners to split the film into two separate movies.\u201d<\/p>\n As for the first film, Hollywood trade outlets including THR and Variety are projecting that Michael will earn $150 million at the worldwide box office in its first weekend. If that projection holds and theater owners take half of the box office, which is a standard amount, Michael will be $75 million into the $200 million it needs to recoup for production costs. <\/p>\n Again, since that production spend doesn\u2019t include marketing expenses, residuals and other expenses, Michael is facing a tall order on its path to profitability.<\/p>\n