'Michael’s' Big Win, the Reshoot Drama, and Sequel Hurdles with Lionsgate’s Film Head

The Town with Matthew Belloni

The Ringer

Society & Culture

4.3 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 April 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Matt is joined by Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson to talk about the success of ‘Michael,’ the challenges of making the movie, why they took a chance on the film when many other studios passed, whether there will be a sequel and if it will engage with the allegations against Michael Jackson, Lionsgate’s recent hot streak, how they compete with major studios, and more (00:00). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (40:35). Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Adam Fogelson Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jon Jones Theme Song: Devon Renaldo This episode is brought to you by AMC+. Start your free trial today at join.amcplus.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:38.3	This episode of The Town is presented to you by AMC Networks.
0:44.6	Billy Magnuson and Zach Galfinacus star in the new series The Audacity on AMC and AMC Plus.
0:51.2	Influence rises, people unravel, and CEO meltdowns are business as usual among Silicon Valley elite.
0:56.3	Executive produced by Jonathan Glasser, a writer-producer of Succession and Better Call Saul.
0:58.2	Watch new episodes of The Audacity,
1:01.7	Sundays exclusively on AMC and AMC Plus.
1:05.3	It is Wednesday, April 29th.
1:08.6	The massive opening weekend for the Michael Jackson movie,
1:11.6	Michael, $218 million worldwide. It was a big win for many parts of the Michael Jackson Industrial Complex.
1:15.6	Graham King, the producer of Michael, the director, Antoine Fukuwa, the Jackson Estate,
1:20.6	which for years has wanted exactly this kind of image reclamation project after the disaster
1:25.6	of the Leaving Neverland documentary,
1:28.4	even if the movie ultimately cost $200 million to produce due to a legal entanglement that
1:33.8	was an accuser that required the film's third act to be completely redone and reshot.
1:38.7	But maybe the biggest winner here is Lionsgate, the studio that co-financed, produced,
1:43.9	and released Michael in the U.S. Universal has the movie overseas. Lionsgate, the studio that co-financed, produced, and released Michael in the U.S.
1:45.6	Universal has the movie overseas.
	...

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