Adam Fogelson
Chair of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group and former Universal Pictures chairman; on the August 2026 earnings call he laid out the Michael sequel plan.
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- Country
- United States
- Known for
- Chair of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group (from December 2023); former chairman of Universal Pictures (2009–October 2013) and of STX Entertainment's Motion Picture Group; announced Lionsgate's target dates for a Michael Jackson biopic sequel on the August 2026 earnings call.
- Career path
- Joined Universal in 1998 as vice president of creative advertising; rose to President of Marketing and Distribution (2007); Universal Pictures chairman (2009–2013); STX Motion Picture Group chairman for eight years; Lionsgate Motion Picture Group vice chair (September 2022), then chair (December 2023).
- Education
- BA in Communication, Stanford University, 1989
- Signature hits
- At Universal: Despicable Me, Ted, Pitch Perfect, Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6, Les Misérables; greenlit Jurassic World and Fifty Shades of Grey; 2012 and 2013 were the studio's highest-grossing years at the time. At STX: Hustlers, the Bad Moms franchise, The Upside, Greenland, The Gentlemen.
Adam Fogelson is the Chair of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group and the former chairman of Universal Pictures, who used Lionsgate’s August 2026 earnings call to lay out the studio’s plan for a sequel to its billion-dollar Michael Jackson biopic Michael (TheWrap; ANI). Fogelson said the studio is targeting a sequel production start in late 2026 or early 2027 for release in late 2027 or the first half of 2028 — reusing musical sequences shot for the first film that never made the final cut (ANI).
Lionsgate is the third studio Fogelson has led, after chairmanships at Universal Pictures and the STX Motion Picture Group (Boxoffice Pro). He joined Lionsgate as vice chair of its Motion Picture Group in September 2022, reporting to Joe Drake, and was named chair in December 2023 (TheWrap; TheWrap). In 2012 and again in 2013, under his leadership, Universal celebrated its highest-grossing years at the worldwide box office in the company’s over 100-year history at that time — a record that is the clearest explanation for why Lionsgate handed him its film group and, with it, the Michael follow-up (TheWrap).
The earnings call that sketched Michael 2
On the August 2026 earnings call, Fogelson said the studio hopes to begin production on the Michael sequel in late 2026 or early 2027, “with the hopes of releasing the final product at the end of next year or in the first half of 2028,” per Variety’s reporting of the call (ANI). The key production detail was thrift: “We have a number of sequences, particularly some big musical sequences, that were shot previously, that are almost sure to be incorporated,” he said — material cut from the first film being recycled into the follow-up (ANI).
“We are mostly focused right now on how to make sure we can deliver, at the right price, the biggest, best sequel. That is what the audience is going to want and deserve after the experience we gave them the first time,” he added, while declining to give budget guidance (ANI). One honest qualifier: the studio had not officially greenlit the sequel as of the call — Fogelson’s dates are stated targets, not a greenlight (ANI).
Universal, STX, Lionsgate: three chairmanships
Fogelson’s career is a study in scaling film businesses. He joined Universal in 1998 as vice president of creative advertising, rose to President of Marketing and Distribution in 2007, and became chairman of Universal Pictures in 2009 — overseeing worldwide theatrical, home entertainment, partnerships, licensing, finance and communications (TheWrap). The 2012 and 2013 record years came with releases including Ted, The Purge, Pitch Perfect and the Despicable Me and Fast & Furious franchises — and greenlights for Jurassic World, Neighbors and Fifty Shades of Grey (TheWrap; Boxoffice Pro). He graduated from Stanford University in 1989 with a BA in Communication and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters (TheWrap).
After departing Universal in October 2013, he chaired STX Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group for eight years, overseeing Hustlers, the Bad Moms franchise, The Upside, Greenland, The Gift, Molly’s Game and The Gentlemen (TheWrap). Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer called him “one of Hollywood’s most accomplished and innovative film executives” (Boxoffice Pro).
| Studio | Chairmanship | Signature titles |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Pictures | 2009 – October 2013 | Despicable Me, Ted, Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaids, Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6, Les Misérables; greenlit Jurassic World, Fifty Shades of Grey; record box-office years 2012–13 |
| STX Motion Picture Group | ~8 years, ending 2022 | Hustlers, Bad Moms franchise, The Upside, Greenland, The Gift, Molly’s Game, The Gentlemen |
| Lionsgate Motion Picture Group | Vice chair Sept 2022; chair Dec 2023 – present | Michael (2026), the studio’s billion-dollar biopic; sequel targeted for late 2027 / first half of 2028 |
Frequently asked questions
Who is Adam Fogelson? He is the Chair of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, the executive who oversees the studio’s film slate. He previously chaired Universal Pictures (2009–2013) and STX Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group (for eight years), making Lionsgate the third studio he has led.
What did he say about the Michael sequel? On Lionsgate’s August 2026 earnings call, Fogelson said the studio is targeting a sequel production start in late 2026 or early 2027 for release in late 2027 or the first half of 2028, reusing musical sequences shot for — but cut from — the first film. He declined to give budget guidance.
Has the Michael sequel been officially greenlit? Not as of the August 2026 earnings call: ANI’s report of Variety’s coverage notes the studio had not officially greenlit the sequel at that point, even though the first film ends with “His Story Continues.” Fogelson’s statements are stated targets rather than a greenlight.
What were his biggest successes at Universal? In 2012 and 2013, Universal had its highest-grossing years at the worldwide box office in the company’s then-100-plus-year history, with hits including Despicable Me, Ted, Pitch Perfect, Fast Five, Fast & Furious 6 and Les Misérables — and greenlights for Jurassic World and Fifty Shades of Grey.
How did he come to Lionsgate? He joined in September 2022 as Vice Chair of the Motion Picture Group, reporting to then-chair Joe Drake and overseeing worldwide marketing and theatrical distribution. When Drake initiated a leadership transition, Fogelson was named chair in December 2023.
What this profile does not claim
- It does not state that the Michael sequel has been officially greenlit; the August 2026 earnings-call statements are targets, and the lack of a greenlight as of the call is flagged in openItems.
- It does not assert a reshoot-cost figure for the first Michael film; outlets report $10–15 million (Variety) versus $50 million (Telegraph/NewsBytes), and the conflict is recorded in openItems.
- It does not date the start of his STX chairmanship, which the fully-read sources do not pin down.
- It does not speculate on which era of Michael Jackson’s life the sequel will cover; the Dangerous-era and allegations coverage in the press is attributed speculation, not a plan.
Timeline
- 1989
- Graduates from Stanford University with a BA in Communication.
- 1998
- Joins Universal Pictures as vice president of creative advertising.
- 2007
- Rises to President of Marketing and Distribution at Universal Pictures.
- 2009
- Becomes chairman of Universal Pictures, overseeing worldwide motion picture operations.
- 2012–2013
- Under his leadership, Universal records its highest-grossing years at the worldwide box office in the company's 100-plus-year history at that time.
- 2013
- Departs Universal Pictures in October; later becomes chairman of STX Entertainment's Motion Picture Group, a role he holds for eight years.
- 2022
- Exits STX and joins Lionsgate as Vice Chair of the Motion Picture Group on 1 September, reporting to chair Joe Drake and overseeing worldwide marketing and theatrical distribution.
- 2023
- Named Chair of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group in December, succeeding Joe Drake.
- 2026
- On Lionsgate's August 2026 earnings call, says the studio is targeting a Michael sequel production start in late 2026 or early 2027 for release in late 2027 or the first half of 2028, reusing musical sequences shot for the first film.
What we could not verify
These claims came up in research and could not be confirmed. They are recorded here rather than published as fact or quietly dropped. If you hold a source that settles one, please tell us.
- The earnings-call plan and an official greenlight are not the same thing: ANI reported that, as of the August 2026 call, the sequel had not been officially greenlit — Fogelson's statements are stated targets. This site's Michael film profile describes the follow-up as confirmed (via the Economic Times); both characterizations are presented with their sourcing rather than merged.
- NewsBytes reports the first film's reshoots at $50 million, while Variety's reporting (via this site's Michael film profile) puts them at $10–15 million. No reshoot figure is asserted in this profile; the conflict is recorded here.
- The exact start of Fogelson's STX chairmanship is not dated in the fully-read sources (TheWrap says 'for the last eight years' as of July 2022); no start year is asserted.
Sources
5 sources (3 tier 1, 1 tier 2, 1 tier 3), each opened and read against the claim it supports. Every source is independent of the subject; no first-party material is cited. See the source policy.
Built from five sources read in full: three tier1 (two TheWrap pieces, ANI via Manila Metro), one tier2 (Boxoffice Pro) and one tier3 (NewsBytes, used only to corroborate the earnings-call timeline). Wikipedia was consulted only as a lead index and is not cited. The earnings-call facts rest on ANI's reporting of Variety's coverage of the call; this profile does not inherit the claims of this site's Michael film profile but re-verified them independently. Fogelson's exact title is "Chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group" (also rendered "chairman" by outlets).
- Supports: Appointment as Chair of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group succeeding Joe Drake; prior chairmanships at Universal Pictures and STX; STX hits (Hustlers, Bad Moms, The Upside, Greenland, The Gentlemen); Universal record-breaking run (Despicable Me, Ted, Pitch Perfect, Fast & Furious 5 & 6, Jurassic World, Fifty Shades of Grey, Les Misérables); Wicked marketing campaigns; Jon Feltheimer and Joe Drake statements Open original source
- Supports: Joining Lionsgate as Vice Chair of the Motion Picture Group from 1 September 2022, reporting to Joe Drake, overseeing worldwide marketing and theatrical distribution; eight years as STX chairman; Universal Pictures chairman 2009–October 2013 with worldwide operations oversight; 2012 and 2013 as Universal's highest-grossing years in company history at that time; joined Universal in 1998 as VP of Creative Advertising, President of Marketing and Distribution 2007; Stanford 1989 BA Communication; lives in Los Angeles with wife and two daughters Open original source
- Supports: Fogelson's August 2026 earnings-call statements (via Variety): Michael sequel production targeted for late 2026 or early 2027, release targeted for end of 2027 or first half of 2028; sequel not officially greenlit as of the call; reuse of previously shot musical sequences ('almost sure to be incorporated'); 'deliver, at the right price, the biggest, best sequel' framing; not ready to give budget guidance Open original source
- Supports: Lionsgate as the third studio Fogelson has led; Universal chairman for four years with record box-office years (Despicable Me, Ted, Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect, Fast 5/6, Jurassic World relaunch, Fifty Shades of Grey, Les Misérables, Wicked marketing); STX hits list; Feltheimer and Drake succession statements Open original source
- Supports: Corroboration of the earnings-call timeline (via Deadline) and Fogelson's budget-guidance quote; the outlet's $50M reshoot figure is not asserted — see openItems Open original source
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