‘Michael 2’ Lands $31 Million in Tax Credits: Filming on the Billion-Dollar Biopic’s Sequel Starts in the Coming Months

Lionsgate is speeding up production on the direct sequel to its Michael Jackson biopic. In October 2026, the project ‘Michael 2’ won approval for tax credits from the state of California worth up to $30.8 million. The state subsidy is meant to keep the blockbuster’s production in Hollywood rather than in cheaper European or Canadian soundstages: California will cover 35% of the studio’s qualified spending on local crew and infrastructure.

By comparison, the original film also took part in the regional program, but the subsidy rate was half as high — according to official California Film Commission data, the first movie received about $21.1 million against $120 million in verified spending.

A Third of the Film Is Already Shot, With a Release Expected by 2028

Lionsgate’s main advantage in the race for a fast release is the material it already has in the can. While working on the first installment, the filmmakers shot far more footage than a theatrical runtime required. The studio estimates that roughly 25–30% of the sequel’s runtime is effectively ready — these are large-scale choreography numbers and concert scenes from the King of Pop’s golden era that were originally planned for a two-part release.

Adam Fogelson, head of Lionsgate’s film division, confirmed in a comment to Variety that principal photography on the sequel will begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Given the footage already in hand, the film could reach theaters in late 2027 or the first half of 2028. The musician’s nephew Jaafar Jackson will return in the lead role, a transformation that both critics and the singer’s family praised highly.

Why a Sequel Was Inevitable

The producers’ haste is directly tied to the original’s phenomenal commercial triumph. The first installment premiered in April 2026 and rewrote box office history: according to Box Office Mojo, the film’s worldwide gross passed the $1.02 billion mark.

The film overtook ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ about Queen to become the highest-grossing music biopic in history and the first biographical drama to cross the billion-dollar mark. With such strong audience interest, splitting Jackson’s sprawling biography into two full-fledged parts guarantees the studio another box office smash at a relatively modest cost for the additional shooting.