The studio behind hit Michael Jackson biopic Michael has revealed plans for a sequel despite the controversy that surrounded the original.

Speaking in a quarterly earnings call reported by Variety, Lionsgate motion picture chair Adam Fogelson said that preparations for a projected sequel “continue to go exceptionally well”.

Fogelson added: “I would say that there is a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story, and much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalogue that were not touched upon in the first film. There are so many other events that happened, even in the time frame of the original movie that weren’t touched upon, so we’re very, very confident that we’ve got an incredibly entertaining movie that will appeal once again to a global audience.”

Michael delivered record breaking box office figures in both the US and UK on its release in April, with its current revenue standing at $715.8m (£533.2m) worldwide. The film ends with Jackson’s 1988 performance at Wembley Stadium in London, as part of his Bad tour.

However Michael’s production was dogged by issues surrounding allegations of child sex abuse against Jackson, with much of the original footage being scrapped after producers belatedly realised that the settlement between Jackson and one of his accusers, Jordan Chandler, meant that Chandler could not appear as a character or be mentioned in the film.

It is not clear how or even if a sequel will deal with child sex abuse allegations against Jackson, which first emerged in 1993. However, Fogelson suggested that the sequel may not follow chronologically, saying: “We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story.” He also suggested that some of the previously shot footage could be utilised for the sequel which would help lower the sequel’s production costs, saying: “We think we’ve got 25 to 30% of a second movie already shot from the prior production activity, and so obviously that will have some [financial] benefit ultimately.”