Lionsgate confirmed this week that Michael 2 is actively being developed, moving the sequel from rumor to reality after the first film surpassed every box office expectation. Michael, the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, opened April 24 and has since become the highest-grossing film in Lionsgate's history, crossing $23.1 million globally in its seventh weekend alone with the total running well into nine figures. What Michael 2 will cover is still being determined, but Fogelson noted the sequel can go "forwards and backwards" in the timeline, and crucially, some of the material cut from the first film to avoid legal complications around the Jordan Chandler settlement could potentially be repurposed, lowering sequel production costs. No director, release date or additional cast has been confirmed. Given the first film's extraordinary performance, the timeline will likely move fast.