Washington DC: The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, titled Michael, is expected to miss its originally planned release in 2025, with a likely shift to sometime in 2026. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film features Jaafar Jackson — Michael Jackson’s nephew — making his acting debut.

During Lionsgate’s Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed the current status of the project. He said they were thrilled with the 3.5 hours of impressive footage captured by director Fuqua and producer Graham King. A final decision on the film’s launch timeline and strategy will be disclosed in the coming weeks.

Feltheimer indicated that Michael will probably move out of the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2026. As a result, the biopic’s release is now expected sometime after April 1, 2026. This shift, though it may impact the studio’s fiscal 2026 performance, is anticipated to strengthen the lineup for fiscal 2027.

Reports from Variety last month suggested the movie might be divided into two parts and pushed back from its initially scheduled October 3, 2025 release.

The project has generated significant buzz, not only due to its subject but also because of the unique casting and direction. Fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Jaafar Jackson step into the King of Pop’s shoes on screen.