John Branca, the longtime attorney and estate executor for Michael Jackson, was all smiles this week as he and his wife, model and beauty entrepreneur Kristina Tuckute, celebrated a milestone after “Michael” had officially crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
Speaking with Ravv in Beverly Hills, with Tuckute at his side, Branca made clear the moment was not just about him.
“Worldwide love for the Michael biopic is undeniable,” he said. “There’s a lot to celebrate.”
The Lionsgate biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, has overtaken “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Oppenheimer” as the highest-grossing biopic of all time.
Asked whether the film’s abrupt ending leads to a follow-up, Branca, who is also a producer of the film, stopped short of confirming the rumor but hinted at a possibility.
“Well, people are calling for it, that’s for sure,” Branca said. “Nothing is set yet. But think about this. First billion-dollar biopic. Could it be the first biopic with a sequel? Nothing set yet.”
Branca, who is portrayed by Miles Teller, praised the actor’s take on him during the peak years with Jackson.
“Incredible,” Branca said. “Listen, everybody in that cast did amazing. Jaafar deserves an Academy Award. Colman Domingo, Miles, Nia Long, everybody. Graham King, Antoine Fuqua, what a team.”
Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s nephew, stars in the title role.
Fuqua, who began his career directing music videos for artists including Prince and Stevie Wonder before films such as “Training Day” and the “Equalizer” franchise, has described the project in deeply personal terms.
“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music is a deep part of who I am,” Fuqua said when he joined the production. “For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson.”
He has also credited Jackson with shaping his path as a filmmaker, “seeing how he refused to get put in a box as just a Black artist only.”