Shocking News for the Highly Anticipated, Record-Breaking Michael Biopic!

Initially set for release in April of last year, “Michael,” the biopic dedicated to the King of Pop directed by Antoine Fuqua, was already postponed to October 1, 2025. Today, we learn that the film starring Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, has been delayed once again, this time to 2026, with no new release date announced yet.

This news confirms a persistent rumor since CinemaCon. During the event, no footage was shown, leading the press to speculate about the uncertain status of the film’s release.

Why the Delay?

The reason for the delay? A significant setback due to the need to reshoot the film’s ending. The screenplay, written by John Logan, touches on the first allegation of child sexual abuse against the artist in 1993. This case was settled out of court for 22 million dollars. However, one of the terms of this settlement strictly prohibited any mention of the alleged victim’s name and their family in a film or documentary.

It appears that in approving the script, Michael Jackson’s heirs may have overlooked this legal clause. To comply with legal obligations, the production team had no choice but to reshoot the ending of the film.

A 3.5-Hour Film?

In announcing the film’s delayed release, Jon Feltheimer, CEO of Lionsgate, also hinted that the feature could run for three and a half hours: “Regarding our biopic on Michael Jackson, we are excited about the three and a half hours of exceptional footage delivered by producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua. We will announce a definitive release strategy and schedule in the coming weeks.” It remains to be seen if “Michael” will, as some rumors suggest, be split into two parts.

With an estimated budget of $150 million, “Michael” was among the most anticipated films of 2025. The excitement matches the popularity of the artist, but the delay also highlights the complexity of bringing the life of such an iconic yet controversial figure to the screen.