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
Jenna Bush Hager is taking a break from the Today show for the week of March 16–20, with guest co-hosts stepping in to fill her absence. Sheinelle Jones, her co-host, will be joined by Justin Sylvester, Ashley Graham, Nia Long, and Darren Criss during the week. Jones noted that Jenna is on “a well-deserved spring break” and emphasized the show’s efforts to maintain its usual energy with the rotating guest hosts. Sylvester, who previously co-hosted with Bush Hager, will return on Monday, March 16, following a red-eye flight from Los Angeles after covering the Oscars. The show’s Instagram account outlined the week’s schedule, including Graham, Long, and Criss as guest co-hosts. Sylvester will also return on Friday, March 20, to wrap up the week. Jones, who joined the Today show in January, has been balancing her role while navigating personal challenges, including the recent loss of her husband, Uche Ojeh, in May 2025. She has been open about her grief while continuing her work on the show. Prior to her co-hosting role, Bush Hager spent a year with over 60 guest co-hosts on Today with Jenna & Friends, comparing the experience to “dating” after her previous co-host, Hoda Kotb, left the show in January 2025. Kotb praised Bush Hager’s growth, calling her a “proud mom” watching her carry the show for an entire year. Jones was selected as Bush Hager’s co-host in December 2025 after returning to the Today show in September 2025. She took an extended leave of absence following her husband’s death. Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie’s absence from the Today show continues amid the search for her mother, Nancy, who was abducted in February 2026. Jones and Kotb have been filling in for Guthrie during the early news hours, though a return date for Guthrie has not been confirmed.#jenna_bush_hager #sheinelle_jones #justin_sylvester #ashley_graham #nia_long
