After multiple delays and reshoots, Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic officially lands a new release date — hitting theaters and IMAX globally on April 24, 2026.
Lionsgate and Universal have announced that Michael, the upcoming biographical drama about the life and legacy of pop icon Michael Jackson, will now debut worldwide on Friday, April 24, 2026. Lionsgate will distribute the film domestically, while Universal handles international markets — except Japan, which is being managed by Kino Films.
READ FULL: Meet the Full Cast of the Michael Jackson Biopic, ‘Michael’…So Far
The project, originally slated for april 2025, then moved to october 2025, faced delays due to an extended first cut exceeding three and a half hours, as well as creative differences with the Jackson estate over sensitive content. Additional photography and a reworked third act pushed the release further into 2026.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan, Michael promises an in-depth look at Jackson’s evolution from child prodigy to global phenomenon. The film is being produced by Graham King, whose music biopic Bohemian Rhapsody earned over $910 million at the global box office and won four Academy Awards.
Starring Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the title role, the film will feature over 30 of Michael Jackson’s iconic tracks, providing fans with a rich musical backdrop to his story.
The star-studded cast includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Larenz Tate, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Jessica Sula, Liv Symone, Kendrick Sampson, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Kevin Shinick, and Derek Luke.
The biopic is expected to end with Jackson’s departure from his family group and the launch of his solo career with Off the Wall in 1979. A second film is reportedly already in development to explore the rest of his career, including the Thriller and Bad eras.
Lionsgate execs previewed early footage of Michael at CinemaCon, with film chair Adam Fogelson teasing major announcements still to come: “Much has happened since, and while we aren’t quite ready to share more, we’re going to have some very big and exciting things to say in the coming weeks.”
With an estimated production budget of $155 million, strong family involvement, and the legacy of one of music’s most influential artists at its core, Michael is expected to be one of 2026’s biggest theatrical events.
