The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is expected to be split into two movies and pushed back from its current October 3rd release.
Antoine Fuqua’s music biopic was included in last year’s Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation, but no footage was shown in the 2025 presentation in Las Vegas. This absence comes amid rumors that the film is being reshot, re-edited and cut into two films.
The film, which has a roughly $155 million budget, sees Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson making his screen debut as the pop icon. Colman Domingo will play the controversial patriarch Joe Jackson, while Nia Long plays his mother Katherine. Miles Teller is set to appear as his attorney John Branca, Larez Tate stars as Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, and Laura Harrier portrays pioneering female music executive Suzanne de Passe.
Producer Graham King revealed that the Michael Jackson biopic would include 30 songs and have a lengthy run time to do justice to the late pop star’s story. This has led to speculation that it could follow in Wicked’s footsteps and split into two features.
Delay Amid Reshoots And Rumors Of Being Split Into Two
The film wrapped principal photography in May 2024, yet no footage has been seen outside of 2024’s CinemaCon. Fans have been waiting for a trailer since a photo of Jaafar Jackson as the late singer landed on social media.
Producer Graham King (Rocketman) revealed that the biopic would include 30 songs and would have to have a long running time to do the music icon’s career justice. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter the film could be expanded into two features.
Numerous rumors have hit the film’s production, including that the third act needs to be reworked. A Puck report in January claimed the ending had to be changed because it features a plot about a Jackson accuser whose settlement specified their story would never be dramatized. Splitting the film into two separate features could help give the producers and writers more time to work on changing this ending.
Michael has already moved back by six months from its previously planned release in April 2025 to October 2025.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Puck, The Hollywood Reporter
