SPOILER ALERT!! This piece discusses the ending and post-credit scene of 'Michael'.

The new biographical film 'Michael', centred on the life of Michael Jackson and led by his nephew Jaafar Jackson (Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine Jackson's son), has stirred unexpected debate following its post-credit tease.

While the Marvel-style tag has sent fans into a spiral of jokes, theories and disbelief, it has also prompted fresh questions about whether a second Michael film is truly on the way.

Did 'Michael' tease a Marvel crossover?

Reactions online have been sharply divided. Some cinema-goers insist they witnessed the post-credit text themselves; others dismiss it as a misunderstanding or deliberate theatre-goer trolling.

The alleged line, "Michael will return in Avengers: Doomsday", has triggered a flood of humorous speculation on social platforms. One user wrote, "He's teaming up with Dr Doom to try and kidnap the baby Franklin Richards - Both have different reasons though." Another joked, "MJ moonwalking outta one of Dr Strange's portals."

Neither Marvel nor director Antoine Fuqua has confirmed any such crossover, making it clear the line is not part of any official Marvel storyline. Still, the moment has succeeded in fuelling discussion about the film's ending, and its future.

Why 'Michael' ends earlier than expected

The movie concludes in 1984 during the Jacksons' Victory tour, with Michael announcing their final performance together to the shock of his father, Joe Jackson. The film then briefly jumps to 1988 for a "Bad" tour performance, functioning more as a musical epilogue than a continuation of the narrative.

What followed in cinemas was the now-viral post-credit statement: "His story continues."

Behind the scenes, the ending was significantly reshaped. The film was originally planned to address the 1993 allegations involving Jordan Chandler, accusations Jackson denied and settled for $23 million. However, after filming wrapped, the production discovered a prior legal agreement preventing the Chandlers from being depicted "in any movie."

This forced the filmmakers to alter the third act entirely. As reported, the team underwent 22 days of reshoots costing roughly $10-15 million to create a new ending and rework earlier scenes.

Could a sequel happen?

Despite the uncertainty around the post-credit tease, the possibility of a follow-up film is very real.

Lionsgate Motion Picture chairman Adam Fogelson has twice suggested plans for a second instalment, albeit unofficial for now. In an earnings call, he said the studio was preparing "to deliver more Michael soon after we release the first film," and later told The Hollywood Reporter, "We absolutely have more story to tell... We have prepared for that moment. And if the audience reinforces that they're ready for more, we're prepared to give it to them sooner rather than later."

Jaafar Jackson echoed this to Entertainment Tonight, noting that a sequel is "in the early development right now."

Producer Graham King has previously expressed interest in covering the singer's later eras, particularly the 'Dangerous' (1991) and 'Invincible' (2001) albums, as well as the creation of Neverland Ranch and Jackson's love of animals.

Colman Domingo, who plays Joe Jackson, told Today, "There's a possibility of there being a Part 2, that may deal with some other things that happen afterwards."

Lionsgate is expected to wait for box-office performance before greenlighting the next film. Early projections suggested 'Michael' could set records for a music biopic debut.

Unused footage

Reports from Variety and The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the filmmakers shot significantly more material than appears in the final cut, at one stage enough to consider splitting the film into two parts. Some of that footage, unrelated to the removed allegations storyline, may still be usable in a sequel.

Director Antoine Fuqua told CinemaBlend, "It's so painful when you have to cut anything out, right? So we're still going through footage. We got so much footage."

An extended edition is not ruled out, but Fuqua suggested it is too early for concrete plans.

How a sequel might approach Jackson's controversial years

Any future film will avoid the 1993 Chandler allegation entirely due to legal restrictions. If the sequel continues the story chronologically, it may conclude around the early 1990s, similar to 'MJ the Musical', which ends as the 'Dangerous' tour begins.

If it ventures deeper into the 1990s and 2000s, it would need to navigate how to depict Jackson's life without referencing the very events dominating public discourse from that era, a challenge the first film sidestepped by stopping in 1984.

Marriages, family and legacy

Michael Jackson married twice, to Lisa Marie Presley in 1994 and Debbie Rowe in 1996, and had three children - Prince, Paris and Blanket (Bigi). His siblings include fellow global star Janet Jackson.

His musical legacy remains unparalleled, with timeless hits including 'Billie Jean', 'Thriller', 'Beat It', 'Smooth Criminal' and 'Black or White'. 'Thriller' still holds the title of best-selling album in history.

His 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey remains one of his most viewed conversations, shedding rare light on his childhood and struggles.

Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo and reportedly lupus, impacting his health throughout adulthood.

Michael Jackson's net worth

Despite earning over $500 million during his career, Jackson died in 2009 with roughly $500 million in debt, driven by enormous spending, legal settlements, and costly projects that never materialised. Much of this debt was tied to loans against his Sony/ATV music publishing stake.

In the years since, Jackson's estate has reversed his financial downfall spectacularly, generating over $2 billion and fully clearing his debt. Today, his intellectual property and catalogue remain some of the most valuable in music entertainment.