Michael Jackson biopic delayed until April 2026

The release of the much-awaited Michael Jackson biopic Michael has been officially postponed and is now expected to hit theatres no earlier than April 2026. The update was shared by Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer during the studio’s Q4 2025 earnings call, where he confirmed that the film is undergoing final planning and will miss the current fiscal year.

“We’re excited about the 3½ hours of amazing footage from producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua. A definitive release strategy and timing will be announced in the coming weeks,” Feltheimer said, as reported by People magazine.

Originally scheduled for April 18, 2025, and later pushed to October 3, 2025, the film faced significant delays after reshoots were ordered in January 2025 due to legal scrutiny over a clause in a past settlement involving one of Jackson’s accusers. The clause reportedly barred any dramatized portrayal of the Chandler family, an oversight that emerged late in production.

Adding to the changes, Lionsgate executive Adam Fogelson revealed that Michael will be released in two parts. Despite the disruptions, insiders maintain that the production is on track and not in disarray. Michael stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, in the lead role. The cast also includes Coleman Domingo and Nia Long as Joe and Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as John Branca. The biopic, directed by Fuqua and produced by Bohemian Rhapsody’s Graham King, was first announced at CinemaCon 2024, though no footage has been screened publicly yet.