Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Has New Premiere Date Of April 24, 2026

If you are anxious to see the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, you will have to wait a little longer as the film has been pushed back a third time to April 24, 2026.

According to Deadline, the much-anticipated film about the life of the “King of Pop,” which will be released by Lionsgate and Universal, has pushed the October 3, 2025, release to next year. This is the third time a release date has been pushed back after the initial debut was scheduled for April 18, 2025, before it was slated for the October release.

The biopic, directed by Training Day director Antoine Fuqua, will star Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, as Michael. Jaafar is Jermaine Jackson’s son. Jermaine was the second lead singer behind Michael when their three other brothers, Jackie, Tito, and Marlon, formed The Jackson 5, who recorded on Motown Records. Randy joined the group when they left Motown, and Jermaine stayed with the record label.

The first delay of Michael was due to the movie being more than three and a half hours, sending the film back to the cutting floor to edit it down.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that the film, which was originally supposed to span the legendary singer’s life, will only cover the time of the group’s inception until he officially left The Jacksons to go off on his own, right before releasing his solo album, Off the Wall, in 1979. There is reportedly a second film that would seemingly cover the time when his solo career took him to a stratospheric level until his unfortunate death in 2009.

Some of the people featured in the biopic include Colman Domingo as Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, and Nia Long as his mother, Katherine. The remaining cast members are Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, and Derek Luke.

Graham King, who produced the film, along with John Branca and John McClain, told the CinemaCon audience last year that Michael would feature 30 songs in the movie.