Who Will Direct ‘Michael: Part Two’ Instead Of Antoine Fuqua? Producer Graham King May Step In Despite its overwhelmingly negative reviews, Michael has become a box-office success, grossing $97 million domestically in its opening weekend and likely securing a strong performance in the following weekend. However, the film’s director, Antoine Fuqua, has confirmed he will not return to helm the sequel, leaving the question of who will take his place unanswered. According to industry insiders, producer Graham King may step into the director’s chair for Michael: Part Two, despite lacking formal directing credits. The decision is rooted in King’s deep involvement in the production of the original film, including overseeing reshoots and navigating the legal challenges that reshaped the project into a vastly different version than initially intended. His firsthand experience with the chaotic production of Michael—which faced significant budget overruns and creative disputes—positions him as a logical choice for the sequel. Fuqua’s absence is attributed to his commitment to another high-profile project: a Netflix epic centered on the ancient general Hannibal Barca, starring Denzel Washington. While Fuqua’s collaboration with Washington on Training Day remains a notable draw, his focus on this new venture has left him unable to return to the Michael franchise. However, his role in the sequel will remain as a producer, though the extent of his involvement in the creative process remains unclear. The original Michael film, which was planned as a three-hour biopic, ended abruptly in 1988, leaving the sequel to pick up where the theatrical release left off. Lionsgate has indicated it will proceed with its current shooting schedule, given the success of Fuqua’s film at the box office.#lionsgate #nia_long #graham_king #antoinne_fuqua #john_brance
‘Michael 2’ Faces Challenges Without Janet Jackson’s Involvement The sequel to the acclaimed biopic Michael, titled Michael 2, is moving forward despite potential complications stemming from Janet Jackson’s absence. The film, which chronicles the life of Michael Jackson, has been greenlit by studios including Lionsgate and Universal, with plans to expand on the original narrative. However, the lack of Janet Jackson’s participation has raised concerns about the film’s ability to capture key moments from Michael’s career, particularly their iconic collaboration on the song Scream. The original Michael film, released in 2025, was praised for its music, nostalgia, and performances, especially by Jaafar Jackson and Juliano Valdi. However, critics and fans noted that the film omitted significant events from Michael’s life, such as his work on The Wiz, his relationship with Quincy Jones, and his acquisition of The Beatles’ catalog. Janet Jackson’s absence from the first film was attributed to “certain legal considerations,” and she reportedly declined to participate. If she continues to avoid involvement in Michael 2, the sequel may miss a pivotal chapter in Michael’s career. Janet and Michael’s collaboration on Scream in 1995 remains one of their most celebrated works, breaking records and showcasing their complex sibling dynamic. The song’s creation was marked by both creative synergy and tension, with Janet describing the project as “tough” due to the emotional and competitive challenges of working with her brother. Jimmy Jam, a co-producer of Scream, hinted at the sibling rivalry during the process, stating, “So I felt a little bit of the competitiveness, which was cool.” Janet, however, offered a more nuanced perspective, emphasizing the difficulty of the collaboration.#michael_jackson #lionsgate #universal #janet_jackson #scream
Michael Jackson’s estate went from $450M debt at the time of his death to a $3.5 billion empire Michael Jackson’s estate, which faced a staggering $450 million in debt at the time of his death in 2009, has transformed into a multi-billion-dollar empire. The legacy of the late pop icon, once burdened by financial struggles, now generates substantial revenue through music, film, merchandise, and stage productions. Despite his untimely passing, the estate has leveraged his enduring global appeal to rebuild and expand his financial footprint, culminating in a net worth of $3.5 billion over the past 15 years. The debt crisis began in the late 1990s, when Jackson’s lavish lifestyle and legal battles left him in financial peril. His annual expenditures, which included millions spent on luxury items, travel, and charitable donations, far outpaced his income. By the time of his death, he owed over $450 million, with significant portions of the debt attributed to legal settlements, including a $40 million payment to promoter AEG Live for the canceled This Is It tour. Additionally, a $270 million loan and 65 claims from creditors further strained his finances. Legal fees and taxes added to the burden, leaving the estate in a precarious position. The estate’s recovery began with the release of Michael Jackson’s This Is It, a documentary based on the rehearsals for his postponed tour. The film, which premiered in 2009, earned over $265 million globally and generated an additional $100 million through DVD sales, soundtrack purchases, and merchandise. The estate pocketed $200 million from the documentary, a critical step in repaying debts. This success was followed by the sale of Jackson’s ATV Music catalogue, which included songs by The Beatles, to Sony Music for $750 million.#michael_jackson #lionsgate #cirque_du_soleil #aeg_live #sony_music
Roku Launches Howdy Streaming Service with 10,000 Hours of Content Roku has launched its new streaming service, Howdy, which offers nearly 10,000 hours of content from partners such as Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, Disney Entertainment, Warner Bros. Discovery, and FilmRise, along with select Roku Original titles. The service was introduced in August 2025 and is designed to complement, rather than compete with, premium streaming platforms. The company also shared its fourth-quarter earnings for 2025, reporting a net income of $80.5 million. In addition, Roku announced plans to introduce new streaming bundles, expanding its offerings to users. Howdy’s content library includes a mix of licensed titles and original programming, aiming to provide a diverse range of entertainment options. The service’s launch follows Roku’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its position in the streaming market by partnering with major studios and expanding its content portfolio. The company’s financial performance in the latest quarter reflects its growing profitability, despite the competitive landscape of the streaming industry. With the introduction of new bundles, Roku is positioning itself to attract a broader audience while maintaining its focus on user experience and content variety.#lionsgate #roku #howdy #sony_pictures #disney_entertainment
Gerard Butler's 700-Year Crime Thriller Set for Netflix Streaming Gerard Butler’s 2026 filmography has faced mixed results, with his latest project, Greenland 2: Migration, marking a significant financial setback. The sequel to the 2020 disaster film leaned heavily into sci-fi elements, costing Lionsgate an estimated $90 million to produce. Despite its ambitious scope, the film only recouped $44 million globally, positioning it as one of the most notable sci-fi flops in recent years. However, Butler remains active in the industry, with multiple projects in development. Among these is a third installment of Den of Thieves, set to begin production this summer, and a live-action sequel to How to Train Your Dragon, which will feature Cate Blanchett reprising her role as Valka. One of Butler’s most anticipated ventures is In The Hand Of Dante, a historical crime thriller spanning over 700 years. The film alternates between two distinct time periods: the 1300s, where Dante Alighieri drafts The Divine Comedy, and the early 2000s, which follows an older reincarnation of Dante entangled in a plot to steal and authenticate the iconic manuscript. Based on the novel by Nick Tosches, the project is directed and written by Julian Schnabel, with a star-studded ensemble including Butler, Oscar Isaac, Al Pacino, Jason Momoa, Martin Scorsese, Gal Gadot, John Malkovich, Sabrina Impacciatore, Franco Nero, Benjamin Clementine, and Paolo Bonacelli. Netflix has secured distribution rights for In The Hand Of Dante, emerging victorious in a competitive bidding process. The streaming giant has not yet announced a specific release date for the film. The movie premiered in September 2025 at the Venice Film Festival, where it was screened for a limited audience of critics.#netflix #venice_film_festival #lionsgate #julian_schnabel #gerard_butler
Chris O’Donnell’s 5 Children: All About the “9-1-1: Nashville” Star's Daughters and Sons Chris O’Donnell, known for his role in 9-1-1: Nashville, has five children with his wife, Caroline O’Donnell. The couple married in 1997 and welcomed their first child, Lily, in 1999. Since then, they have added four more children: Christopher (Chip), Charlie, Finley, and Maeve. O’Donnell, who grew up with six siblings, has always prioritized family, stating that raising children is his top priority. He took a break from acting after having his children but returned to Hollywood for NCIS: Los Angeles to stay close to his family. Lily Anne O’Donnell, the eldest, was born on September 3, 1999, in New Zealand while O’Donnell was filming Vertical Limit. He was present for her birth but admitted it was a challenging experience, as he fainted during labor. Lily, who aspired to be an actress, appeared in an episode of NCIS: Los Angeles at age 10 and worked with her younger brother, Charlie. She later studied film and cinema at Boston College and worked in marketing and TV distribution for Lionsgate. Christopher “Chip” Eugene O’Donnell Jr., born in 2000, is the couple’s first son. Named after his father, Chip was a proud fan of his dad’s Batman & Robin role as Robin. As a child, he was obsessed with sports, playing soccer, baseball, football, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, and golf. Chip, now 25, has not appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles episodes, though he was set to make a cameo that never materialized due to a COVID-19 outbreak on set. Charlie, born in 2003, is the third child. His older sister Lily expressed disappointment that he wasn’t a girl, but the family celebrated his birth. Charlie, who shares a passion for acting with his sister, appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles as a younger version of O’Donnell’s character.#chris_odonnell #911_nashville #caroline_odonnell #ncis_las_vegas #lionsgate
