Michael (2026 film)
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Get ready to experience the magic, the music, and the untold story of an icon. "Michael," the upcoming American biographical musical drama, directed by Antoine Fuqua and penned by John Logan, dives deep into the extraordinary life of the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.
Stepping into these legendary shoes is Jaafar Jackson, Michael's own nephew, marking his incredible film debut. Alongside him, an all-star ensemble cast brings this captivating journey to life, featuring Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.
The journey of "Michael" began in November 2019, with John Logan crafting a screenplay that promised to illuminate Jackson's unparalleled career. Lionsgate officially announced the film in February 2022, with Antoine Fuqua taking the directorial helm in January 2023. Casting commenced that same month, with Jaafar Jackson secured for the titular role. The rest of the incredible cast was assembled between January and April 2024, with filming kicking off in January after a brief pause due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, wrapping up in May.
"Michael" is poised to hit U.S. theaters on April 24, 2026, courtesy of Lionsgate, with Universal Pictures handling international distribution.
The film promises a sweeping narrative, tracing Michael Jackson's evolution from a child prodigy with the Jackson 5 in the late 1960s, all the way through his unparalleled global superstardom, to his untimely passing on June 25, 2009.
Development of "Michael" began in November 2019, with Graham King securing the rights to produce a film about the King of Pop, and John Logan tasked with writing the screenplay. Lionsgate stepped in as the studio with global distribution rights in February 2022, later partnering with Universal Pictures for international distribution in October 2023.
Antoine Fuqua was officially announced as the director in January 2023, and the casting process began immediately. Jaafar Jackson was confirmed to portray his iconic uncle. By January 2024, newcomer Juliano Krue Valdi was cast as a young Michael, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long embodying Joe and Katherine Jackson, respectively. Miles Teller joined the cast in February as John Branca, with the rest of the Jackson 5 members announced later that month, alongside a host of other notable figures. Derek Luke completed the principal cast in April 2024, joining as Johnnie Cochran.
The screenplay, as penned by John Logan, delves into sensitive aspects of Jackson's life, including allegations of child sexual abuse. Producer Graham King emphasized a commitment to humanizing the subject without sanitizing his story, aiming for the most compelling and unbiased narrative possible.
Principal photography was slated for mid-2023 in Santa Barbara, California, with a significant budget allocated for crew and vendors. However, filming was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, eventually commencing on January 22, 2024, and concluding on May 30, 2024. The film boasts a talented crew, with Dion Beebe as cinematographer, Barbara Ling as production designer, and Marci Rodgers as costume designer.
In post-production, reports emerged in January 2025 regarding potential reshoots of the third act, with a source close to the production denying widespread chaos and confirming that reshoots were underway. By February 2025, Lionsgate indicated that production was nearing completion. April 2025 saw reports of a potential division of the film due to its extensive runtime and a shifting release date. In May 2025, the film was officially delayed to 2026, with a revised runtime of three and a half hours, and additional photography was scheduled for June 2025.
"Michael" is set to premiere on April 24, 2026, in IMAX, distributed by Lionsgate in the United States and Universal Pictures internationally. Previously scheduled for April 18, 2025, and October 3, 2025, the film offered a tantalizing first look to theatre owners at CinemaCon on April 10, 2024, receiving a positive reception.
The marketing campaign kicked off on November 6, 2025, with the release of the first trailer, a dynamic mashup of Michael Jackson's most iconic tracks. The trailer shattered expectations, garnering over 30 million views within its first six hours across social platforms, significantly outperforming the launch of "John Wick: Chapter 4."
Michael is an upcoming American biographical musical drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, based on the life of the American singer, songwriter, and dancer Michael Jackson. Jackson is played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in his film debut. The ensemble cast also features Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.
Development began in November 2019, with Logan attached to write the screenplay. Lionsgate announced the film in February 2022. Fuqua was announced as the director in January 2023, and casting began that month when Jaafar was cast; further casting took place from January to April 2024. Filming began that January, after being delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and ended that May. Additional photography took place in June 2025.
Michael is scheduled for release by Lionsgate in the United States on April 24, 2026, and by Universal Pictures internationally.
== Premise ==
The film follows Michael Jackson's life and career from his time with the Jackson 5 as a child in the late 1960s to his death on June 25, 2009.
== Cast ==
== Production ==
=== Development and casting ===
In November 2019, Deadline Hollywood reported that Graham King had secured the rights to produce a film about Michael Jackson, with John Logan responsible for writing the screenplay, but it was still "not set up at a studio at this point". In February 2022, the film was announced with Lionsgate as the studio owning the global distribution rights. In October 2023, Lionsgate announced that Universal Pictures would handle the international distributor. In July 2024, Deadline Hollywood reported that Kino Films would distribute Michael in Japan. The last theatrical Michael Jackson film, 2009's This Is It, had been distributed by Columbia Pictures, which was a sister company to Jackson's record label Sony Music Entertainment, although they are not involved with this film.
In January 2023, Antoine Fuqua was announced as the director. Casting began that month, with Michael's nephew Jaafar Jackson announced to play Jackson. In January 2024, the newcomer Juliano Krue Valdi was cast as a young Michael, with Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson. In February, Miles Teller was confirmed to play John Branca. The cast for the rest of the Jackson 5 were announced later that month, with Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate, Jessica Sula, Liv Symone, Kevin Shinick, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, and Kendrick Sampson as Suzanne de Passe, Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, La Toya Jackson, Gladys Knight, Dick Clark, Bill Bray, and Quincy Jones in March. In April 2024, Derek Luke joined as Johnnie Cochran.
=== Writing ===
The screenplay includes content regarding child sexual abuse accusations against Jackson, with King saying that he wanted to "humanize but not sanitize and present the most compelling, unbiased story".
=== Filming ===
Principal photography was scheduled to begin in mid-2023 over 80 days in Santa Barbara, California, and was projected to spend $120 million on crew wages and vendors, according to the California Film Commission. Filming was delayed in September 2023 due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming began on January 22, 2024, and ended on May 30, 2024. Dion Beebe was the cinematographer, Barbara Ling the production designer, and Marci Rodgers the costume designer.
=== Post-production ===
In January 2025, it was reported that the third act would be reshot, as the film could not legally depict Jordan Chandler, who alleged that Jackson sexually abused him in 1993. This was denied by Lionsgate, who told Variety that the film was still on track to release in October. A source close to the production told People, "The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos. The inflammatory headlines about the moving halting are simply not true. The film is moving forward, and reshoots are happening in March."
In its annual earnings call in February 2025, Lionsgate said production was nearing completion. In April 2025, it was reported that film could be divided due its four-hour runtime, and that the October 2025 release date was in flux. In May 2025, the film was delayed to 2026 with a runtime of three and half hours. Later that month, it was reported that the film would undergo 22 days of additional photography in June 2025.
== Release ==
Michael is scheduled for release on April 24, 2026, in IMAX. It will be distributed by Lionsgate in the United States and Universal Pictures internationally. It was previously scheduled for April 18, 2025, and October 3, 2025. A first look was shown to theatre-owners at CinemaCon on April 10, 2024, to positive reception.
=== Marketing ===
The first trailer for the film was released on November 6, 2025, by Lionsgate. The trailer features a mashup of Jackson's tracks, including "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Beat It", "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough", and "Billie Jean". Deadline reported that the trailer received more than 30 million views within the first six hours across all social platforms, which is 50% more than what Lionsgate's John Wick: Chapter 4 made during the same time frame.
== See also ==
The Jacksons: An American Dream – 1992 film directed by Karen Arthur
Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story – 2004 television film by Allan Moyle
Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland – 2017 television film directed by Dianne Houston
== References ==
== External links ==
Official website
Michael at IMDb
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