Overview
- Lionsgate told investors on Thursday that it is targeting a production start in late 2026 or early 2027 and is aiming for a release between late 2027 and the first half of 2028.
- The studio said several large musical sequences shot for the first film are “almost sure” to be incorporated into the sequel, giving the project a head start on production.
- Key creative and commercial elements remain unconfirmed: Lionsgate has not announced a director, full cast, budget, or a firm release date, and it said it is not ready to disclose everything.
- The first movie underwent reshoots after the Jackson estate identified a settlement clause tied to an accuser that barred depiction of that person, and that legal constraint will continue to limit how the sequel can treat later controversies.
- The sequel planning is driven by the original’s unusual commercial run—Michael crossed the $1 billion mark—and the studio is weighing reuse of footage, legal clearances, casting choices, and budget trade‑offs as the next steps.