Michael Jackson Biopic’s Release Date Pushed Back To October Next Year

Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, will star as the pop legend. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

The highly anticipated biopic about legendary pop icon Michael Jackson titled Michael will now be released in theaters on October 3, 2025. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Lionsgate, the film’s distributor. The release date has been pushed back by six months from the original schedule of April 18, 2025. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the movie will star Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s nephew, in the role of the King of Pop. Alongside him, the film will feature Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller and Colman Domingo. The script for the biopic has been written by John Logan. The project is produced by Graham King, John Branca and John McClain.

Michael will offer a glimpse into the powerful narrative of Michael Jackson’s life, promising a “riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop.” According to the official synopsis, it will depict his “triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale,” from his personal struggles to his “undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances.” The synonsis adds, “As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.”

During a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July, Fuqua shared updates on the progress of Michael, revealing that the film was in the editing stage at the time. Fuqua also explained his motivation for making the film, saying, “Michael was a big part of my life growing up, a big influence on my career, an incredible artist — but he was a human being, and we’re exploring that. I’m very excited about it.”

At CinemaCon in April, Graham King unveiled the first trailer for Michael. The footage opens with scenes of excited fans and transitions to a young Michael Jackson with his mother telling him, “There might be some people who think you’re different, but you were never like anyone else.” The trailer shows Jaafar delivering electrifying performances on stage as the King of Pop.

King also confirmed that Michael will feature 30 songs and have a long runtime to fully honour Jackson’s legacy. “I’m looking forward to giving the audience a thrill like they’ve never seen before. It is a story worthy of a cinematic presentation. For the first time, fans and generations of moviegoers will come together to get an inside look into the most prolific artist who ever lived,” the co-producer added.