A new Michael Jackson biopic is poised to become one of the most lucrative music films ever made, underscoring the enduring commercial power of the “King of Pop” despite the child sex abuse allegations that continue to shadow his legacy.

Lionsgate, the studio behind the feature-length film titled Michael, is reportedly projecting global box office receipts of around 700 million dollars. If achieved, that would place the film among the highest-grossing musical biopics in history, second only to Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury drama that took in more than 900 million dollars worldwide.

The movie is the latest addition to a vast posthumous empire that has turned Jackson into one of the most profitable deceased entertainers. Stage productions such as MJ: The Musical, which opened on Broadway and has since toured internationally, and Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE in Las Vegas continue to draw large, multigenerational audiences.

Australian fan Mychael Darklighter, who has seen the musical twice, described packed houses and ecstatic reactions. A crowd of all ages was going nuts for it each time I attended, he said, reflecting the fervent loyalty of Jackson’s global fan base.

That loyalty has translated into formidable earnings. Jackson has repeatedly topped Forbes rankings of the highest-earning dead celebrities, and his streaming numbers remain formidable, with more monthly listeners on Spotify than many of today’s biggest pop stars.

Former advisor Vincent Amen believes the new film will only amplify that reach. With the fan base, I think that they’re putting themselves on the right path to commercial success, he said.

Public relations specialist Kimberly Krautter argues that Jackson’s brand has, paradoxically, become easier to manage after his death, as it is less fraught with the controversies that dogged him in life. Those ranged from bizarre public moments, such as dangling his infant son over a Berlin hotel balcony, to the damaging 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson, in which he defended sharing his bed with children while already facing abuse allegations.

Jackson was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial, and he has never been convicted in criminal or civil court. Nonetheless, fresh civil suits and renewed scrutiny have persisted. Reports suggest the new biopic, produced with close involvement from the Jackson family, omits these allegations entirely.

Some scholars, like Duke University professor Mark Anthony Neal, had hoped for a more unflinching portrait but doubt Hollywood is ready to tackle such complexity in a major studio release. For many fans, however, Jackson’s artistic legacy remains untouchable. I think his legacy is pretty secure, all things considered, Darklighter said. No matter how much they try to destroy his character.