"Michael", a biopic about Michael Jackson, is officially happening.

Well, it might be conflating early Bad Tour with the most iconic performance of it. It just sounds interesting to not have MITM. Maybe they’d rather start Part II with it as that’s basically his biggest ballad?
Since the OG promo picture they shared was Man In The Mirror from the Dangerous tour, maybe the song is kept for a potential Part II
 
'His story begins' is a good indication for a part 2, although this would still work if they decide there wont be a part 2.
Although I wonder if all the rewrite rumours are true, how would they suddenly be able to use the scenes in a part 2 if they were forced to not mention the allegations?

A bit of fanfiction:
I think this biopic/part will/could/should end on a happy note on the bad tour. - and then cut -
Michael looking back in deep thoughts at this concert scene we just witnessed, with glimpses and flashes from the neverland raid scene cut inbetween like a nightmare, in the sense of, 'how could it come to this'

Michael screaming 'I am Jackson' ( implying not J****)
Title card 'Jackson - his story continues' in similar writing as the firt part titled Michael.
End Credit with Dream away.
 
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- The whole history of the movie points to a part 2.

- one blurb from a lionsgate official points to a part 2.

- the wording in promo material points to a part 2 („the making of a king“, „his story begins“, „the ORIGIN of an icon“)

- it just makes sense with all of the story of MJ’s life and all of the music he created that there will be a part 2.

- and just now: this song list (if true) points to a part 2
 
I just created a spoilers thread, is there any way it could be stickied mods? @AlwaysThere @SmoothGangsta

Also a note of warning to everyone - we are now at a point where things can and will be spoiled for you. It's clear there are several people in this thread who are not used to following movie releases, and there are those who are very familiar with how it goes. We cannot simply rely on a spoilers thread to feel safe from spoilers.

Chances are some users will post spoilers in here. From here on in, be cautious.
 
“The long-awaited biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, will be released in theaters on April 22, 2026. The first teaser, unveiled in November, has already generated worldwide excitement with nearly 120 million views! This film is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the King of Pop and introduce his universe to a new generation. Many surprises and initiatives will be arriving very soon to accompany this major release. While waiting for April 22, a brand-new teaser has just been released!” - Legacy Recordings
 
Although I wonder if all the rewrite rumours are true, how would they suddenly be able to use the scenes in a part 2 if they were forced to not mention the allegations?
Only the 1993 allegations are problematic, because of the settlement. There's nothing that stops them from covering the 2005 trial. But it would really be a shame if the real story of the 1993 allegations never gets told...
 
I just created a spoilers thread, is there any way it could be stickied mods? @AlwaysThere @SmoothGangsta

Also a note of warning to everyone - we are now at a point where things can and will be spoiled for you. It's clear there are several people in this thread who are not used to following movie releases, and there are those who are very familiar with how it goes. We cannot simply rely on a spoilers thread to feel safe from spoilers.

Chances are some users will post spoilers in here. From here on in, be cautious.
Thread has been stickied. Agreed with your post, being cautious is the best policy.
 
“The long-awaited biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, will be released in theaters on April 22, 2026. The first teaser, unveiled in November, has already generated worldwide excitement with nearly 120 million views! This film is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the King of Pop and introduce his universe to a new generation. Many surprises and initiatives will be arriving very soon to accompany this major release. While waiting for April 22, a brand-new teaser has just been released!” - Legacy Recordings
Where have you read this? Haven't seen this on their website or sm.
 
I would call part 2 of the biopic "Price of Fame" because after Thriller, he definitely paid a high price for his fame, financially and especially personally. The title also indirectly says it all about the accusations. And of course, the song Price of Fame has to be included.
 
Hot Street as a bridge to Thriller would be awesome. They could say it was a good song, but the other songs were even better. Viewers would want to hear the full Song. And in summer they will release it as a single. Would be a smart Marketing Strategy move by the estate.
That's where the whole thing is misunderstood.

A biopic IS NOT A 2-HOUR PROMO OPPORTUNITY.

Treating it as such would be a huge mistake.

I'd much rather they make a good movie, rather than something that's designed to make you buy the next musical release.
 
The best ending would be transitioning to Bad Tour concert footage for the last minute of the movie via the mirror shot in Man In The Mirror
 
- The whole history of the movie points to a part 2.

- one blurb from a lionsgate official points to a part 2.

- the wording in promo material points to a part 2 („the making of a king“, „his story begins“, „the ORIGIN of an icon“)

- it just makes sense with all of the story of MJ’s life and all of the music he created that there will be a part 2.

- and just now: this song list (if true) points to a part 2
Nothing has been shot for a part 2 and they wouldn’t commit to one until the box office receipts are in. It’s unlikely Lionsgate will want to work with the estate again in the future unless this film makes mega money. Even if there was a part 2, it would not be able to cover what they had originally intended
 
Songs that'll be in the film and where they'll be played:
I want you back (the Ed Sullivan show)
Who's loving you (the Ed Sullivan show)
Stand! (the Ed Sullivan Show)
ABC (American bandstand)
Never Can Say Goodbye (Live at the Forum 1972)
I'll be there (Live at the Forum 1972)
Don't stop till you get enough (music video and studio session)
Rock with you (Because we care Gala)
Ben (Triumph Tour)
Hot Street (Studio Session)
Wanna be startin' something (also being written)
Beat it (both being thought about by Michael and the making of music video)
Thriller (of course)
Billie Jean (writing of it, music video glimpse and Motown 25)
This place hotel (victory tour)
Human nature (victory tour)
Workin' day and night (victory tour)
Bad (bad tour Wembley)
Will You Be There (end credits)
Absolutely false. They won’t do a deal with the Temperton estate to include Hot Street in any music release so it’s not happening here. MITM is there as it was in the reshoots.
 
Not true. Epic Records have full control over Hot Street since 1982.
And? It’s the estate that’s the issue. That’s why it wasn’t included on Thriller 40. Same with Nightline. This also applies to extra verse written by Temperton for Best of Joy.
 
Both Hot Street and Nite Line are fully owned by the Estate and Sony and they can release them whenever they want to. Same goes for Starlight, which was included on Thriller 40. Those tracks are way too advanced to be released on a 40th anniversary release, hence they were ommited and less advanced demos were chosen instead, which I actually favor. Otherwise, there would‘ve been no way we would hear the demos that ended up being included. Hot Street and Nite Line are much more suitable for a studio album or single release.
 
Both Hot Street and Nite Line are fully owned by the Estate and Sony and they can release them whenever they want to. Same goes for Starlight, which was included on Thriller 40. Those tracks are way too advanced to be released on a 40th anniversary release, hence they were ommited and less advanced demos were chosen instead, which I actually favor. Otherwise, there would‘ve been no way we would hear the demos that ended up being included. Hot Street and Nite Line are much more suitable for a studio album or single release.
Thriller 40 would have been the ideal place to release them as they are Thriller outtakes, certainly more suitable than Sunset Driver or CGOTR. It’s because they don’t want to pay the royalties asked for by Temperton’s estate. They will not be released any time soon unless there is a change at the top. As they have said, there are no plans to release music for the forseeable futurez
 
Thriller 40 would have been the ideal place to release them as they are Thriller outtakes, certainly more suitable than Sunset Driver or CGOTR.
Sunset Driver was recorded in 1982, Can‘t Get Outta The Rain is a remix produced in 1982 and released as the B-side of the album‘s first single, so both tracks are valid to be included, especially on „just“ a 40th anniversary edition.
It’s because they don’t want to pay the royalties asked for by Temperton’s estate.
Starlight is a Temperton track as well and was included.
As they have said, there are no plans to release music for the forseeable futurez
Actually, the statement made by John Branca regarding future releases was specifically for Chicago 1945 and Dream Away in early 2025.

Information I have gotten over the past months as well as Legacy Recordings‘ recent statement say something interesting: „Many surprises and initiatives will be arriving very soon to accompany this major release“
 
It might just be that Hot Street was left off of T40 specifically to hold the most commercially viable song for the biopic.

A lot of opinions disguised as fact in this thread. I personally don't buy the whole Chandler argument for the reshoots, all speculation. I think they purposely decided to make two films when they realised the run time of the original concept.

TIME WILL TELL. But people need to stop posting opinion as fact. There has literally been no official confirmation of anything other than the trailer.
 
A lot of opinions disguised as fact in this thread. I personally don't buy the whole Chandler argument for the reshoots, all speculation. I think they purposely decided to make two films when they realised the run time of the original concept.
That’s not how film making works. They had a script for a single film. That was what they shot. Films always run a lot longer in their original cut compared to the theatrical release. The Chandler case is indeed the reason why the reshoots had to happen, at considerable cost. After all, if they had too much footage, why would they then do months of reshoots? It was the Cascio case that triggered the Chandler revelation.
 
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