Jaafar Jackson Says 'Michael' Sequel Will Confront the Child Abuse Allegations the First Film Left Out
Jaafar Jackson says the sequel to Lionsgate's Michael Jackson biopic will address the child abuse allegations that defined the second half of the singer's life — the very chapter the first film left out.
The first Michael biopic, released by Lionsgate, surpassed $1 billion in global ticket sales this summer. It chronicles only the first half of Jackson's career, ending with the 1987 release of Bad and stopping before the first child sexual abuse allegation emerged around 1993 (Variety).
Speaking to GQ Middle East in an interview titled "Jaafar Jackson Is Playing King," the actor — who plays his uncle in the franchise — said the sequel's screenplay is in development and that the second film is closer to starting production. He told the magazine he hopes it will give more insight into Michael Jackson's perspective, saying the issue the family has had is not having Michael's voice heard (GQ Middle East).
Jaafar also said the first film focuses on Michael from his roots, before he became the icon, and that he hopes the sequel conveys that Michael never stopped treating people with kindness (Variety).
Lionsgate confirmed plans for the sequel earlier this year. Lionsgate Chair Adam Fogelson revealed the project during an earnings call, as reported by Entertainment Tonight on 14 August 2026 (Entertainment Tonight / Facebook). The studio moved forward despite the controversy that surrounded the original biopic (The Guardian).
The timeline for the sequel has shifted across sources. The Jacksons' official Instagram account stated in February 2026 that the film is planned for a late 2027 release and will feature major musical sequences (The Jacksons / Instagram). Variety reported on 6 August 2026 that filming could start later in 2026 or early in 2027, targeting a 2028 release — meaning the Instagram timeline may prove optimistic (Variety).
For a billion-dollar franchise, the creative question is straightforward: the first film drew criticism for stopping its story before the most contested period of Jackson's life. The sequel, by Jaafar's account, will not sidestep it.
