Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer announced on May 22 that the highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, titled Michael, is unlikely to premiere in theaters before the end of 2025.
During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Feltheimer expressed enthusiasm for the film, highlighting the “3½ hours of incredible footage” delivered by producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua. He added that Lionsgate plans to reveal a detailed release strategy and timeline soon. However, Feltheimer indicated it’s “likely” the movie’s release will be postponed past the 2025 fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2026, meaning the film may not hit theaters until after April 2026. This shift is expected to affect the studio’s financial results for fiscal 2026 but strengthen an already robust lineup for fiscal 2027.
Following the earnings call, Lionsgate’s film chief Adam Fogelson confirmed that Michael will be released as a two-part film, according to Deadline.
Earlier this year, reports surfaced that the movie requires reshoots after legal teams discovered a clause in a 1993 settlement between Jackson and one of his accusers, Jordan Chandler. That agreement reportedly barred any mention or dramatization of the Chandlers in a film. The original screenplay by John Logan had included this storyline, which was overlooked during initial reviews.
A source close to the production assured PEOPLE in January that the biopic was not in disarray and that the claims of production halts were exaggerated, confirming reshoots were scheduled for March.
Lionsgate had showcased Michael at CinemaCon 2024 but did not screen any footage this year, despite principal photography wrapping up in May 2024. The film was initially slated for an April 18, 2025 release but was pushed to October 3, 2025 last November. Variety later reported that the October date was unlikely to hold due to the reshoots and the decision to split the film into two parts.
Michael stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, in the lead role. Coleman Domingo and Nia Long portray Joe and Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller plays the influential music executive Tommy Mottola. The film is helmed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, known for Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Jackson estate continues to deny allegations of abuse against the late singer, who passed away in 2009. Michael Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, though renewed accusations featured in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland have fueled ongoing legal disputes.
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