Jaafar Jackson hints Michael Jackson sequel will finally confront the allegations

Jaafar Jackson says sequel could explore Michael Jackson's own view on allegations absent from the first film

Jaafar Jackson has offered his clearest indication yet that the planned sequel to Michael could address the allegations that were absent from the first film, saying he hopes the follow-up will provide greater insight into his late uncle's perspective.

Jackson, who plays Michael Jackson in the biographical drama, discussed the future of the franchise in an interview with GQ Middle East. His comments come after the first film faced criticism for ending in the late 1980s without addressing the child sexual abuse allegations that emerged against the singer in the 1990s.

"I think the second film will give even more insight from his point of view, because at the end of the day, the allegations are always from someone else's," Jaafar said.

"It's someone else's story. It's someone else's idea of what it is, and it's mainly driven by an agenda. And that's really the issue we've been having as a family, not having Michael's voice being heard."

The remarks are significant because Michael was originally expected to cover some of the controversies surrounding Jackson's later career. However, the film underwent extensive changes after lawyers for the Jackson estate discovered a clause connected to a 1994 settlement involving Jordan Chandler, one of Jackson's accusers. The agreement restricted the depiction or mention of Chandler in a film, forcing the production to remove material and reshoot parts of the story.

The finished Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, instead concludes during Jackson's Bad era. Its final sequence centres on his career and performance at Wembley Stadium, bringing the story to a point before the allegations that became a defining part of the public discussion surrounding the singer.

The omission became one of the most debated aspects of the film. Critics argued that the decision produced an incomplete portrayal of Jackson's life, while supporters of the project pointed to the legal restrictions surrounding the material. The allegations themselves have been repeatedly denied by Jackson and his estate, and he was never convicted of child sexual abuse.

A sequel is now actively being developed by Lionsgate. Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson said in August that the studio is targeting a production start towards the end of 2026 or early 2027. The current release thinking is between the end of 2027 and the first half of 2028.

Fogelson has also revealed that a substantial amount of material from the earlier production could be reused. He previously said approximately 25% to 30% of a second film had already been shot through earlier production activity, including musical sequences.

Jaafar has also defended the approach taken by the first film, saying he believes it established who Jackson was before his biggest controversies and that the sequel could continue that story.

Antoine Fuqua has previously indicated that he would want any continuation to avoid sensationalising Jackson's life. The director said the focus should remain on Jackson as a person rather than relying solely on the spectacle surrounding his fame.