Photo Credit: Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson / Kevin Mazur / Lionsgate
Lionsgate announces the delay of its Michael Jackson biopic, ‘Michael,’ now slated for a wide release on October 3, 2025.
Lionsgate is gearing up for a busy 2025, and it’s shifting its Michael Jackson biopic into a later release as a result. The company announced on Tuesday that Michael, its Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, is moving back by six months to an October 3, 2025 release. The film was originally slated for an April 18 release.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, and starring the late pop star’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, the film’s cast is rounded out by Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo. The film is based on a script by John Logan, with Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain as producers.
“Why I wanted to make it is, Michael was a big part of my life growing up, big influence on my career, and incredible artist — but he was a human being, and we’re exploring that,” said Fuqua during a San Diego Comic-Con panel in July. “I’m very excited about it.”
The film was revealed to feature 30 songs with a lengthy runtime, in order to do the star’s story justice. Footage was first shared at CinemaCon in April.
Michael’s new release date in October puts it in a prime position for awards shows next year. Notably, the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, also produced by King, opened on November 18, 2018, to $51 million in the US. It ended up grossing $903.6 million worldwide and secured four Oscars.
Lionsgate is also releasing the comedy, Good Fortune, on October 17, which stars Aziz Ansari, Keanu Reeves, and Seth Rogen. Footage of the film also debuted at CinemaCon last spring and received plenty of laughs. The film was written, directed, and produced by Ansari, and also stars Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh.