Michael Jackson Biopic Faces Year-Long Delay Amid Major Reshoots and Controversy

According to new updates from Lionsgate officials, the much-awaited Michael Jackson biopic titled ‘Michael’, which is based on the life of music icon Michael Jackson, is unlikely to debut before the end of 2025.  Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer disclosed during the studio's fourth-quarter earnings call for fiscal 2025 that the movie's release date might be extended past the current fiscal year, which might affect the company's financial outlook for 2026 while bolstering the lineup for fiscal 2027.

 According to Feltheimer, the production team, which is headed by filmmaker Antoine Fuqua and celebrated producer Graham King, has amassed more than three and a half hours of captivating video.  Although current estimates indicate the Michael Jackson biopic may not be released in theatres until after April 2026, he stressed that a definitive release date would be revealed shortly.

Adam Fogelson, the chairman of Lionsgate's film division, also disclosed that the Michael Jackson biopic will now be released in two installments, signifying yet another shift in the studio's strategy.

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The April 2025 release date of the biopic ‘Michael’ was moved to October 2025.  The most recent reports, however, indicate that the movie won't make that deadline either because reshoots are already in progress.

 Significant reshoots after legal discoveries about a 1993 settlement between Jackson and one of his accusers are said to be partially to blame for the delay.  The original script unintentionally broke that agreement, which prohibited the Chandler family from being dramatised or mentioned.  According to those with knowledge of the situation, the production crew acted right away after realising that the screenplay had been accepted before this oversight was discovered.

Insiders maintain that the Michael Jackson biopic is still on course despite a lot of conjecture.  According to a person close to the production, the biopic is not in a state of disarray and is actively proceeding with reshoots planned for March.

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 Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson's real-life nephew, plays the main character in the Michael Jackson biopic.  Jackson's parents are portrayed by Coleman Domingo and Nia Long, Joe and Katherine, while Miles Teller portrays John Branca, the singer's longtime lawyer and executor of her estate.

 ‘Michael’, directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King of Bohemian Rhapsody, has played a significant role in Lionsgate's marketing campaigns, including its 2024 CinemaCon presentation.  However, even though principal photography ended in May 2024, no new footage was displayed during this year's event.

Both critics and fans are eagerly awaiting more details regarding the Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’s formal release date and format.

–Farheen Ali