'Michael' Director Says There's 'Absolutely' Enough Footage For a Sequel
Billboard • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, earned a record-breaking $97 million domestically and over $217 million globally during its opening weekend, highlighting the singer's enduring popularity.
- The film covers Jackson’s early life and rise to fame but deliberately omits the sexual abuse allegations by Jordan Chandler due to a settlement clause, resulting in $50 million in costly reshoots.
- Fuqua aimed to humanize Jackson by focusing on his complexities, talents, and struggles, portraying him as a relatable figure beyond his stage persona, while setting up potential future exploration of the allegations in a sequel.
- The movie ends before the controversial later years of Jackson’s life, touching on his struggles with prescription drug use and hinting at the tragic outcome, with Fuqua confirming that footage for a potential sequel covering these events has been shot.
- Fuqua expressed a strong desire to direct the sequel himself, emphasizing the importance of maintaining continuity and further exploring Jackson’s story beyond the first film.
