‘Michael’ sequel faces a legal standstill over the 1993 Jordan Chandler settlement - Reports

Michael Jackson’s biopic ‘Michael’ sparked fresh sequel talk after a strong box office opening, but the next film faces legal and creative problems. Page Six reported that a sequel is already 30 percent filmed, while Esquire said viewers should not expect it soon because of unresolved legal issues tied to Jackson’s later years. The first film, starring Jaafar Jackson, covers his life from 1966 to 1988 and ends with the message “His story will continue.”According to Page Six, ‘Michael’ opened with USD 217.4 million globally and set a new opening weekend record for a biopic. The outlet reported that Lionsgate is taking a victory lap after the film’s success despite mixed reviews and years of controversy surrounding the production. Lionsgate motion picture chair Adam Fogelson told Page Six Hollywood, “This was a biopic that Lionsgate uniquely had the courage to take on. It’s not like this was a book that Lionsgate owned.”“It’s always exciting when you have a blockbuster hit, but when you have a blockbuster hit on something that many people didn’t think was possible, it’s particularly gratifying,” he added.The film does not cover Jackson’s later legal troubles or child abuse allegations. Esquire reported that the makers suggested those parts of Jackson’s life could be explored in a second movie. Director Antoine Fuqua told Deadline, “What we realized, if you start there, some people who don’t know Michael, it’s out of context.”Colman Domingo, who plays Joe Jackson, told Today, “There’s a possibility of there being a part two, that may deal with some other things that happen afterwards.”The New York Times reported, via Esquire, that allegations were once a major part of ‘Michael’ before legal issues forced changes. A 1993 settlement reportedly barred one accuser, Jordan Chandler, from being depicted or referenced in film or television about Jackson’s life.Producer Graham King told The Today Show Australia, “We had a legal issue we found out after we finished shooting the film, that the estate didn’t realize at the time… So it was a little bit of a shock.”Lionsgate reportedly spent USD 50 million on reshoots and reworked the film’s third act. Page Six reported that the studio will decide its next steps in the coming weeks as it weighs how to continue the story without running into the same legal restrictions.