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Michael Jackson Biopic Delayed to 2026 as Lionsgate Considers Two-Part Release

Ongoing script revisions, reshoots, and legal challenges push the highly anticipated film out of fiscal 2026, with a release now expected post-April 2026.

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Overview

  • Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed that the release of 'Michael' will likely move to fiscal 2027, targeting a date after April 1, 2026.
  • The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, faces significant reshoots due to a 1993 settlement clause barring dramatization of Jordan Chandler’s story.
  • Producers are exploring splitting the three-and-a-half-hour film into two parts to better accommodate its extensive runtime and music catalogue.
  • Principal photography wrapped in May 2024, but ongoing script rewrites and reshoots are required to address narrative and legal issues.
  • Lionsgate will handle domestic distribution, with Universal managing the film’s overseas release.