The hype around Lionsgate's Michael Jackson biopic fell flat during the Q4 2025 earnings call. Anticipating fans of the King of Pop were left toggling their calendars as CEO Jon Feltheimer dropped a delay bombshell. The movie, simply titled "Michael," and starring MJ's very own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, seems to be moonwalking into a bit of a delay.

“Fans of ‘Michael’ better sit tight. We can’t wait to debut the 3½ hours of spectacular film curated by producer Graham King and renowned director Antoine Fuqua," announced Feltheimer. "We will be back with the new release strategy & timing shortly. Shifting ‘Michael’ to our fiscal '27 schedule may shake things up financially but promises to kick the fiscal year off with a strong start."

The Lionsgate fiscal swansong falls on March 31, 2026. So, calculating from Feltheimer's statement, it sounds like Michael Jackson will be rocking the silver screen sometime after April 1, 2026. Reports surfaced last month suggesting the film may have its story unfolded over two parts and get nudged from the originally hinted date of Oct. 3, 2025.

The project, part of the Lionsgate CinemaCon showcase last year, was noticeably out of the limelight this time around. "Michael" has aboard the talents behind "Bohemian Rhapsody," producer Graham King, who wrapped up the movie's initial filming around May 2024, but seems to have hit a pause on the play button for some script revising and reshoots spearheaded by John Logan.

Loaded with a budget of approximately $155 million, "Michael" is a studded ensemble of acclaimed figures. Colman Domingo and Nia Long embody Jackson's parental personas, Joe and Katherine Jackson. Miles Teller is in the hot seat as Jackson's confidant and attorney, John Branca. Larenz Tate takes on the role of Motown Records patriarch, Berry Gordy. The woman power double punch comes from Laura Harrier and Kat Graham, portraying the influential music executive Suzanne de Passe, and the iconic Diana Ross, respectively.

The expansive cast list keeps going. Jessica Sula of "Split" fame steps in as La Toya Jackson, Michael’s sister. Liv Symone will take the stage as Gladys Knight while Kevin Shinick earmarks the role of Dick Clark. The Michael Jackson-Bill Bray association will be presented by KeiLyn Durrel Jones. Bringing on some "Thriller" essence is Kendrick Sampson, who concludes the line-up as Quincy Jones, the legend who teamed up with 12-year-old Michael to create three of his biggest albums: 1979’s “Off the Wall,” 1982’s “Thriller,” and 1987’s “Bad."