Michael Jackson Fans Fear Biopic Movie Delay After CinemaCon Silence
Michael Jackson fans are worried that the upcoming biopic movie might be getting delayed.
Lionsgate held its CinemaCon panel on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The presentation featured exciting new announcements regarding the John Wick franchise, the upcoming Hunger Games prequel, and more; however, Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic, titled Michael, was reportedly hardly even mentioned.
This is especially surprising given that a first look at Michael was shown at CinemaCon in April 2024. According to The Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz, Lionsgate’s Adam Fogelson did note that there would be “more coming soon” about the movie, but nothing else was reportedly said about the movie.
Lionsgate's Adam Fogelson just mentioned the Michael Jackson biopic and says … essentially nothing. "More coming soon." No new footage, no logo, no nothing, even though we got a lengthy trailer at last year's #CinemaCon.
— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) April 1, 2025
The film is currently scheduled to hit theaters on October 3, 2025, with Lionsgate handling the domestic distribution.
What are Michael Jackson fans saying about the biopic movie?
Given that Lionsgate didn’t do anything to promote Michael at CinemaCon, many are wondering if this means the movie will wound up being delayed.
The Michael Jackson state fucked up big time with the whole Jordan Chandler debacle, now the studio is fucking it up by staying silent about a movie they already showed a lot of a full year ago, now they say they can't share ANYTHING? They should just delay and be done with this.
— Omar ☠️ (@HunkyDory1293) April 1, 2025
i know we’re impatient but idc about another delay if it means that they’re going to make the movie absolutely perfect (or about as perfect as can be for a biopic). another delay + possible reshoots is not the end of the world, this is michael jackson we’re talking about ?
— izzy (@peacelovemjj) April 1, 2025
Yeah, I'm starting to think the movie's been pushed back too. Seriously, we SHOULD get some info today. The Lionsgate dude supposedly said they "guarantee some info in the coming weeks" but it's more likely to be a decision to delay it.
— Michael. (@StayMadKiddoo) April 1, 2025
Didn’t they say they wanted this movie to have the best marketing possible? At the rate it’s going I feel like Spider-Man BTSV will come out before Michael. The “More coming soon” is gonna just be news of another delay is what they make it seem like ? https://t.co/MVzz2hSJ9O
— Nichael Yackson (@nichaelyackson) April 1, 2025
Industry insider Jeff Sneider of the InSneider also said, “99 percent sure MICHAEL is getting delayed to 2026. No comment from Lionsgate. I’ll let you know everything I’m hearing later tonight. The good, the bad, and the ugly…”
99 percent sure MICHAEL is getting delayed to 2026. No comment from Lionsgate. I’ll let you know everything I’m hearing later tonight. The good, the bad, and the ugly…
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) April 1, 2025
Earlier this year, there were reports that the third act of the movie may have to be reshot due to some legal issues surrounding Jordan Chandler, an alleged victim of the 1993 sexual abuse allegations against Jackson; however, sources close to the production of the movie denied this.
“The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos,” one source told PEOPLE in January 2025. “The inflammatory headlines about the moving halting are simply not true. The film is moving forward, and reshoots are happening in March.”
The cast of the movie includes Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as John Branca, Laura Harrier as Suzanne de Passe, and more.
Source: Comingsoon.net