Earlier this year, it was reported that Lionsgate, who are coming off seven straight box office bombs, had very high expectations for Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, with the studio believing that it will hit the $1B mark at the box-office when it gets released early next year.
Do I believe these colossal expectations that have been set up for “Michael”? You bet. Just in China alone, Fuqua’s biopic is going to be a monster success.
A Chinese press release has Universal/Lionsgate confirming that the film will be getting a huge marketing campaign with unprecedented promotion and investments as they expect a box office that exceeds the $2B mark worldwide. The press release goes on to describe MJ as the biggest foreign star in Chinese history.
Michael Jackson’s appeal in China is a cultural phenomenon. Among legends and symbols, the artist has been eternalized in statues and murals throughout the country, consolidating his image as the greatest foreign star of all time for the Chinese public. Today, there are more than nine monuments in honor of the “King of Pop” in Chinese cities, confirming the importance and dedication to him.
As it stands, Lionsgate’s highest-grossing movie ever is 2013’s “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” which racked up $865M worldwide. Lionsgate has total confidence that “Michael” will clear the $1B mark, and then some.. The film only cost $155M to produce.
It’ll be interesting to see how the film’s portrayal of Jackson will be met by mainstream audiences. It’s already a foregone conclusion that critics will be complaining about it being a watered down depiction. As for the general moviegoer, I don’t believe they will care half as much about the endless accusations that plagued the musician during the last 20 years of his career.
In the summer, Puck’s Matt Belloni had read the script for “Michael” and reported back that, with the full approval of the Jackson family estate, the film “wants to very much convince you that Michael is innocent” and “goes to great lengths to minimize and downplay” the controversies.
Fuqua is just asking for it by making this film, it’s a ballsy move, and he’ll be scurrying through landmines depicting the latter half of Jackson’s life. The Jackson family giving firm approval for this film to happen means that this will be a biased depiction of the late singer’s controversies.
In addition to Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, the movie co-stars Nia Long as MJ’s mother, and Colman Domingo playing his controversial father, Joe. None other than Miles Teller will be playing Jackson’s long-time lawyer (and the film’s producer) John Branca.
Three-time Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan penned the script. Lionsgate is releasing “Michael” on April 18, 2025.
Marvel's "Ghost Rider" just hired one of the best cinematographers working today. Linus Sandgren will serve as DP on Shawn Levy's MCU flick, and, most notably, the project will be shot on film.