Lionsgate Moves ‘Michael’ Jackson Biopic Again

Michael Jackson fans will have to wait a bit longer for Antoine Fuqua’s biopic “Michael.”

via: Deadline

Lionsgate Studios is moving the release of anticipated biopic Michael from this fall into its fiscal 2027 but didn’t give a new release date. That means it’s at a year or more away. The company’s fiscal year 2026 just started in April.

“In regard to our Michael Jackson biopic, we’re excited about the 3½ hours of amazing footage from producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, and we will be announcing a definitive release strategy and timing in the next few weeks. I would note that it is likely we will move Michael out of the fiscal year which will impact fiscal ’26 financial results but will bolster an already strong fiscal 27 slate,” said CEO Jon Felthimer on a conference call with financial analysts after quarterly earnings.

They were the company’s first as a standalone after splitting with Starz earlier this month.

Michael was first set for April and most recently for Oct. 3, although it didn’t seem likely it would make that date. Deadline reported out of CinemaCon last month that given the length of the cut the film could be split into two movies, although there was nothing definitive.

Lionsgate didn’t show footage for Michael at the event. The film which stars Jackson’s nephew and Jermaine Jackson’s son Jaafar Jackson in the title role. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson and Nia Long is Katherine Jackson.