Jaafar Jackson, who portrayed his late uncle in the hit biopic Michael, has said the planned sequel will address the child sexual abuse allegations that the first film sidestepped by ending its story in 1987. Speaking to GQ Middle East, he said the follow-up will offer Michael Jackson's own perspective on claims he described as always coming from "someone else's story" driven by an "agenda," arguing the family has long felt his uncle's voice was never properly heard.

The original film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, traced Jackson's rise from Indiana to global superstardom but stopped short of the abuse claims, the first of which emerged in 1993 involving Jordan Chandler; Jackson settled that case for a reported $25 million without criminal charges. He was later tried and acquitted in 2005 over allegations involving Gavin Arvizo, and further claims were made in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. Scenes on the allegations were reportedly shot for the first film but cut due to a legal clause, triggering costly $50 million reshoots; Lionsgate's Adam Fogelson has said production on the sequel could begin later this year or early next, with release targeted for late 2027 or early 2028.