Exclusive: Sources are telling us that Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael, from Lionsgate, with a near four-hour cut, could be split into two movies. That’s an option on the table but not a definite at this time.

When you think of Jackson’s life — from Gary, In, to the Jackson 5, Off the Wall to Thriller, and to his undoing — it’s an epic story worthy of a two parts ala Wicked.

Will the Graham King production make its October 3 release date? Most likely not. But realize there’s a lot of sign-offs here with Universal handling overseas and Japan sold separately. A key factor also for a concert-like movie of this stature is access to Imax screens. King’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which was about another controversial pop star in Queen’s Freddie Mercury, overcame all obstacles and opened to $51 million stateside and crooned to north of $216M U.