Lionsgate and Universal’s long-awaited biopic Michael, centered on the life of pop icon Michael Jackson, is now set for a global theatrical release on Friday, April 24, 2026, just ahead of the summer movie season. The film will also be screened in IMAX formats.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Oscar-winner Graham King, Michael stars Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the lead role as the King of Pop.
The film’s release has faced delays for multiple reasons. The first cut reportedly ran over three and a half hours, prompting significant edits. Additionally, controversy arose surrounding the film’s depiction of Jordan Chandler, the 13-year-old boy who accused Jackson of molestation in the early 1990s. While the screenplay by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan originally included Chandler, with the approval of the Jackson estate, a post-production agreement required his character to be removed. This forced the filmmakers to rework parts of the movie.
Meanwhile, sources say a second film exploring Jackson’s life is still in development, though no further details have been released.
Michael was previously showcased at CinemaCon, where its distribution plans were teased. With its new pre-summer launch, the studios are positioning the film for strong box office traction both in the U.S. and internationally.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Jenna Ortega returns as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday Season 2, which will roll out in two parts: Part 1 premieres August 6, followed by Part 2 on September 3.
