The Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic of Michael Jackson – Michael – has moved to autumn 2025, presumably with an awards run in mind.
Lionsgate has made one significant alteration to its 2025 slate, pushing back the release of Michael from April of next year back by six months. That means that the Michael Jackson biopic will now release at some point in autumn of 2025, alongside what we assume will be a mighty promotional blitz.
Training Day director Antoine Fuqua is behind the film, and revealed back in the summer that he was in the process of editing. No stated reason has been offered for the delay, so this could mean reshoots, more time needed in post-production or perhaps that the studio has spied a more tempting space in the 2025 calendar to market its film. Don’t discount the idea of a hefty awards run.
Speaking at San Diego Comic Con earlier this year, (via The Hollywood Reporter) Fuqua talked a little about his desire to make the film, saying: “Why I wanted to make it is, Michael,” the filmmaker stated. “Michael was a big part of my life growing up, 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.”
Starring in the title role is Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of the late pop icon. Nia Long will be playing Katherine Jackson, the matriarch of the Jackson clan. Long was most recently seen in last year’s screenlife thriller Missing, but she has enjoyed a storied career that began in the late 1980s and has encompassed such classics as Friday and Boyz N The Hood.
Miles Teller is in place to play an unnamed attorney, while Colman Domingo is also part of the ensemble.
That’s a strong cast to support Jackson in what is expected to be a film with a sizeable runtime to do justice to the singer’s incredible discography. Up to 30 songs are said to be included within the film, charting the story of one of entertainment’s most talented and divisive figures. How much of the latter element of Jackson’s life – particular the allegations against him – make it onto the screen, we’ll have to wait and see.
