JLS star and lifelong Michael Jackson super-fan Aston Merrygold says the Michael biopic should have ended with one film, despite Lionsgate confirming a sequel is already in the works.
The first instalment became the highest-grossing biographical movie of all time, and before its even left cinemas, the studio has revealed plans to begin production on part two later this year or in early 2027.
But Aston – who has a tattoo of the King of Pop and famously won Stars In Their Eyes as a young MJ – believes the story was complete. The original film avoided the darker chapters of Jackson’s life, including the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations, which were removed from the biopic at a reported cost of $15 million.
Promoting his role as an ambassador for the 40th anniversary Apology Tour for The Transformers: The Movie, Aston told BANG Showbiz: “We did several times. Loved it. The execution of the story, the passion behind it… it was nice that the family were involved enough to let everybody see what he was really like. I think his nephew Jaafar Jackson did it absolutely justice, which was incredible. And me personally, I’m like, you’ve done it. I would leave it there. I wouldn’t have number two, three. That’s the mind that everyone remembers, right? That’s the phenomenon that was the greatest entertainer of all time. For me, I was like, that’s dead on. You got it right. Leave it there. Perfect.”
Just like the Jacksons, the JLS boys have musical families.
All four members of the noughties boy band – completed by Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill – are fathers now, and the 38-year-old singer says the JLS brood is so overflowing with talent that they could all make it on their own one day.
He said: “I mean, there’s a lot of them to make JLS Juniors, to be honest.
“Well, we can always try it, but I think at the same time, there’s a lot of solo acts there, I won’t say that for sure. They’re all very, very, very talented children. ?There won’t be any nepo-baby kind of madness going on there. They will all be flying within their own right. ?They’re all very bright children, which is lovely.”
Fans can find their nearest screening of The Transformers: The Movie at www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/the-transformers-the-movie-40th-anniversary.
