Michael Jackson fans will have to wait a bit longer for Antoine Fuqua's biopic "Michael." During Lionsgate's Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Jon Feltheimer shared an update on the film starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, who makes his screen debut in the project. More from Variety Lionsgate, After Starz Split, Sees Quarterly Revenue Jump 22% to $1.1 Billion and Movie Segment Profit Hitting Highest Level in 10 Years Lionsgate's 'Ballerina' Sets Russia Release as Studios Say Cold War Thaw Is 'Inevitable' (EXCLUSIVE) Lionsgate and Starz Are Officially Now Two Separate Companies "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," he said. "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." The fiscal calendar ends on March 31, 2026, so Feltheimer's statement indicates that the film (or films) will likely debut after April 1, 2026. Last month,Varietyreportedthat the film would likely be split into two parts and be pushed from the initially announced release date of Oct. 3, 2025. While "Michael" was a major part of last year's Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation, no footage from the project was shown during this year's outing. The film, produced by "Bohemian Rhapsody's" Graham King, wrapped principal photography in May 2024, but John Logan's script is in the process of being revised in advance of reshoots. "Michael," which carries a roughly $155 million budget, also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long as family heads Joe and Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller will play Jackson's attorney and advisor John Branca.Larenz Tatewill star as Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, whileLaura Harrier will play portray pioneering female music executive Suzanne de PasseandKat Grahamwill appear as the legendary Diana Ross. Other cast members include Jessica Sula ("Split") as La Toya Jackson, Michael's older sister; Liv Symone ("Power Book III: Raising Kanan") as Gladys Knight; Kevin Shinick ("Robot Chicken") as Dick Clark; KeiLyn Durrel Jones ("The Other Two," "How to Die Alone") as Jackson's former security-turned-trusted friend and confidante Bill Bray; and Kendrick Sampson ("Insecure") as industry icon Quincy Jones, who first met Michael Jackson when he was just 12 years old. The pair would go on to collaborate on three of Michael's most successful albums: 1979's "Off the Wall," 1982's "Thriller" and 1987's "Bad." Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.
