Lionsgate and producer Graham King have officially decided that their long-in-the-works Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” needs some heavy lifting before it’s ready to moonwalk into theaters.
Sources tell THR that “Michael” is gearing up for a hefty 22-day of reshoots in June. This isn’t just the usual patch-up job — it’s more of an expansion effort, with the project reportedly evolving from one film into two.
The planned shoot will focus on what was originally the first half of the film, now being retooled to stand on its own. Word is, the revised ending will now close with Jackson’s departure from the Jackson 5 following the release of Off the Wall.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson (Michael’s real-life nephew) as the King of Pop, the biopic also features Colman Domingo, Nia Long, and Miles Teller. Lionsgate and Universal are backing the film alongside the Jackson Estate, which has had its own behind-the-scenes drama to contend with.
A key issue? Legal complications around a dramatized portrayal of one of Jackson’s accusers, who had previously reached a settlement with the estate barring his depiction in any dramatization. That snag has forced a rethink of the movie’s original third act — which is now on ice. THR sources say a script for the second film still isn’t locked.
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer acknowledged the delays on Thursday, revealing that the film — initially dated for April 2025 before moving to October — is now expected to slide into 2026. He confirmed Fuqua and King have already amassed over three and a half hours of footage.
So, while the estate and studio may have been caught off the wall, it looks like Michael is far from done — and will find its way into theaters in two parts instead of one.