Universal Pictures Pushes Michael Jackson Biopic To Spring 2026

While Michael Jackson passed away over 16 years ago, his legacy remained untouched. Throughout his time in the spotlight, the icon sold over 500 million albums, landed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and was the only singer to be inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame. Just last year, a portion of his music catalog was sold for a staggering $600 million. And at the time of his death, over two billion people watched his memorial service. A true superstar in the music industry, Universal Pictures and Lionsgate teamed up to bring the singer’s life to the big screen. Although scheduled for a 2025 release, it appeared the biopic wouldn’t hit the silver screen until 2026. 

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Helmed by director Antoine Fuqua, who directed The Magnificent Seven, the film revolved around key points in Jackson’s life. That included his turbulent upbringing with Joe and Katherine Jackson. Outside of Fuqua, the cast included Miles Teller, Larenz Tate, Kat Graham, Kevin Shinick, Colman Domingo, and several others. As for Jackson, the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, would tackle the role. 

[RELATED: On This Day in 2009, Michael Jackson’s Public Funeral Was Held in Los Angeles]

Director Excited To Share Vision Of Michael Jackson

Although the initial production wrapped back in 2024, the biopic found itself in limbo after producers pushed for reshoots. Adding to the production time, the studio even toyed with the idea of breaking the film into two parts. With reshoots and post-production, the budget climbed to over $155 million.

While the biopic was pushed until 2026, King was thrilled to share his vision with fans of Jackson. “I’m so honored to tell Michael’s story. It’s been a long journey, and I’m excited for the film to show audiences around the world a perspective of Michael that they’ve never seen.”   

As for the studios, the chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Adam Fogelson, noted how the legacy of Jackson remained a topic of discussion since his passing. “Michael Jackson was inarguably one of the greatest entertainers of all time. His impact on music, video, art, fashion, and culture is still profoundly relevant.”

With millions of dollars funneled into the production, a stellar cast, and a hit director, fans will have to wait until 2026 to see if the film will truly do the King of Pop justice.

(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)