Lionsgate has announced that its highly-anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, will now hit theatres on October 3, 2025. The film previously was scheduled to make its debut on April 18, 2025. That’s now been pushed back to a fall date in 2025. The fall release pits the movie amidst a busy autumn season for Lionsgate, which also has Aziz Ansari’s comedy Good Fortune set for an October 2025 release.
The new release date injects fresh excitement into the highly publicized project. From director Antoine Fuqua, the biopic will feature Jaafar Jackson-nephew to the late pop icon in the title role. His resemblance to his famous uncle has already been fodder for attention, building anticipation. Rounding out the cast of the film are Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo.
The biopic, according to The Hollywood Reporter, will look at both the personal and public life of Michael Jackson. The film will show a balancing of the artist’s life to bring out both his brilliance and his challenges. John Logan wrote the screenplay, focusing on the complexities of Jackson’s life beyond the music.
The delay gives Fuqua and his company more time to perfect the film. Fuqua has spoken in the past about how deeply personal Jackson’s music and legacy has been. During this July’s San Diego Comic-Con, Fuqua mentioned, “Michael was a big part of my life growing up big influence on my career, an incredible artist-but he was a human being, and we’re exploring that. I’m very excited about it.”
Lionsgate also announced that the title of Aziz Ansari’s next comedy, Good Fortune, would hit theaters on Oct. 17, 2025, two weeks after Michael. Good Fortune tells the odd story of a clueless angel trying to help a gig worker in struggle mode and a successful venture capitalist. The movie will star Keanu Reeves as an angel, Ansari, and Seth Rogen. This film will offer a lighter, more comic contrast to the dramatic tone of Michael, which promises to be an emotional experience.
More than a year away from opening, Michael is already getting folks to chat. In April, the studio showed theater owners footage at CinemaCon. Letting them know the film would feature 30 of Jackson’s most iconic songs. According to producer Graham King, the movie will boast a long runtime to go as deep into Jackson’s journey both as an artist and a person.
These are fans who have been dying to see Jackson’s life dramatized on celluloid. The delay will only heighten the anticipation of what will surely be a cinematic tribute to one of the greatest entertainers in history.
ANI