A sequel to the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" will address the late pop star's child sexual abuse allegations, with principal photography set to begin before the end of the year. Jaafar Jackson, the singer's nephew who portrays him on screen, confirmed the sequel's script is still being written and said he is not involved in the writing process.
The first film grossed more than $1 billion globally, becoming the first biopic to cross that threshold and surpassing "Oppenheimer" and "Bohemian Rhapsody." Directed by Antoine Fuqua, it focused on Jackson's childhood and early career, concluding around the 1987 "Bad" era without referencing the allegations that emerged in 1993. The sequel will examine those accusations from Jackson's perspective.
The franchise's continuation follows a child sex trafficking lawsuit against Jackson's estate that was dismissed earlier this month, while a separate case brought by the creators of the "Leaving Neverland" documentary has been scheduled for trial in 2028.