Michael Jackson's biopic likely to release in 2026 due to reshoots: Report

It stars Michael's real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role.

The biopic on the iconic Michael Jackson, titled Michael, has created much buzz. American production house Lionsgate's CEO Jon Feltheimer stated that the audience might not see it until late 2025.

According to a report in People magazine, Jon discussed the release schedule for the movie on Thursday's Q4 2025 earnings call.

He said, “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 & timing in the next few weeks."

According to Jon, the movie will probably be delayed past the current fiscal year, which could have an impact on the financial results for fiscal 2026. But he added that the postponement would bolster a fiscal 2027 lineup that was already looking good. Lionsgate's fiscal year ends on March 31, 2026, so the biopic might not be released until at least April of that year.

According to reports, Michael's filming faced several hurdles last year and it was also reported that many scenes will have to be reshot due to legal requirements tied to a settlement clause related to a past allegation involving Michael Jackson. The late singer was accused of molesting a 13-year-old named Jordan Chandler in 1993. The case was reportedly settled in an out-of-court settlement with $25 million.

A clause in that settlement, according to the report, prohibited the Chandlers from being portrayed in any dramatisation; this particular detail had been overlooked when John Logan's script was first approved. The film is still on course, according to people close to the production, despite the controversy. Additionally, a source told People Magazine that reshoots and the remainder of the film's production will take place in March.

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Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film is backed by Graham King. It stars Michael's real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. It also features Coleman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller in key roles.