The Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is set to be released this spring with an April 24 premiere date. The Hugh Jackman dark reimagined Robin Hood film, The Death of Robin Hood, is also set to be released sometime this year. Although a specific date hasn’t been locked in, it may likely also see a spring release or possibly something in the summer. With both movies preparing to screen, the MPA has recently announced the ratings for these films in their latest bulletin. Michael is aiming to reach audiences of many demographics and has secured a PG-13 rating for some thematic material,
language, and smoking. Meanwhile, The Death of Robin Hood will be sporting an R rating for strong bloody violence.

Michael

The Michael Jackson film is helmed by Antoine Fuqua, who is best known for Training Day and The Equalizer trilogy, and he directs from a script by Oscar nominee John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall). Jaafar Jackson takes on the monumental task of portraying Michael Jackson, and the film also stars Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, with Miles Teller and Colman Domingo.

The official synopsis from Lionsgate reads,
“MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.”

The Death of Robin Hood

A24 seems to be continuing their recent trend towards larger-canvas, more star-driven films, with Hugh Jackman, Jodie Comer and Bill Skarsgård star in The Death of Robin Hood. Michael Sarnoski, who directed Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One, has written and directed the retelling, with Arrival and The Prestige producer Aaron Ryder on board as a producer on the film.

The synopsis says, “The film is a darker reimagining of the classic Robin Hood tale. Set of its time, the film will see the title character grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, a battleworn loner who finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman who offers him a chance at salvation.” Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Noah Jupe (A Quiet Place) also star in the reimagining.

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Theodore

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple by artbyscnry

Avengers: Doomsday by Diamonddead

The Devil Wears Prada 2 by Luis Felipe

Dune Part Three by Ryan Layah

Michael by Fabrizio Evangelista

The Odyssey by Simone Ferraro

Scream 7 by Alex Neuhedel

Spider-Man: Brand New Day by Ahmed Gamal

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu by Aurelio Lorenzo

Supergirl by John Dunn

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The epic biopic project aiming to capture the life of the King of Pop is here. Lionsgate and Universal is giving audiences a glimpse at Michael with a new teaser trailer. The Michael Jackson film is helmed by Antoine Fuqua, who is best known for Training Day and The Equalizer trilogy, and he directs from a script by Oscar nominee John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall). Jaafar Jackson takes on the monumental task of portraying Michael Jackson, and the film also stars Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, with Miles Teller and Colman Domingo.

The official synopsis from Lionsgate reads,
“MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.”

Despite glowing reactions to early footage, the film’s release has reportedly been delayed due to legal complications. Lionsgate, the studio behind the film, had initially hoped it would be a major awards-season contender and a box office juggernaut this year – but now, it has been confirmed that they’re waiting to give the film a global theatrical release on April 24, 2026. (With a second film already in development.) 

Michael comes from producer Graham King, the man behind Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury biopic that grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and took home several Oscars. Like that film, Michael has endured its share of pre-release hurdles. While production reportedly went smoothly, the controversy around Jackson’s personal life — and how the film portrays it — has become a sticking point. The other producers on the film include John Branca and John McClain.

You can also check out some official stills and a new poster below.

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Chris

One of the most controversial movies of the near future could be Michael, director Antoine Fuqua’s high-profile biopic about the life of Michael Jackson. Despite glowing reactions to early footage, the film’s release has reportedly been delayed due to legal complications. Lionsgate, the studio behind the film, had initially hoped it would be a major awards-season contender and a box office juggernaut this year – but now, it has been confirmed that they’re waiting to give the film a global theatrical release on April 24, 2026. (With a second film already in development.) So, what exactly is going on with Michael? Here’s what we know so far.

Michael comes from producer Graham King, the man behind Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury biopic that grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and took home several Oscars. Like that film, Michael has endured its share of pre-release hurdles. While production reportedly went smoothly, the controversy around Jackson’s personal life — and how the film portrays it — has become a sticking point. That’s hardly surprising. Jackson remains one of the most polarizing figures in pop culture, revered for his musical genius and criticized for decades of troubling allegations.

Fuqua, best known for Training Day and The Equalizer trilogy, directs from a script by Oscar nominee John Logan (Gladiator, Skyfall). According to early reports, the film was intended to span Jackson’s entire career — from his early days as the breakout star of The Jackson 5, through the heights of Thriller, Bad, and Dangerous, and into the more complicated final decades of his life. But the exact timeline remains vague.

What we do know is that two actors were cast to play Michael Jackson: Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael, and Jaafar Jackson — the pop star’s real-life nephew — as the adult version. The latter casting raised some eyebrows due to the family connection, but Lionsgate seemed confident in the choice, going so far as to screen an early sizzle reel at CinemaCon 2024. According to those in attendance, Jaafar’s physical resemblance and on-screen charisma left a strong impression.

The supporting cast is equally stacked. Nia Long plays Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, while two-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo takes on the role of his father, Joe Jackson. The elder Jackson’s legacy is complicated — he was notoriously abusive, but also driven and instrumental in launching The Jackson 5 into superstardom. Miles Teller plays John Branca, the longtime music attorney and current co-executor of Jackson’s estate, and one of the film’s producers. Meanwhile, Derek Luke has been cast as famed attorney Johnnie Cochran, who defended Jackson against the 1993 child molestation allegations — an inclusion that signals just how far into Jackson’s life the film intends to go.

And it’s that section of the story that reportedly led to the current legal complications. According to multiple sources, the settlement between the filmmakers and the Jackson estate — which granted access to his music and image — explicitly forbids dramatizing the 1993 allegations or the more salacious aspects of Jackson’s legal battles. Insiders claim that certain scenes may have crossed a line, triggering behind-the-scenes conflict and, ultimately, a massive 22-day round of reshoots earlier this year. However, all parties involved have publicly denied that the reshoots were related to legal trouble.

So what’s the official reason for the reshoots?

Lionsgate’s line is that the film was simply too big for a single installment. The original cut reportedly ran over three hours, and the studio is said to be so bullish on its commercial potential that they decided to expand Michael into two films. The first installment would focus on Jackson’s childhood and his early solo career — likely ending with the release of Off the Wall in 1979. The second film would cover the era of Thriller and beyond, including the height of Jackson’s fame, his eccentric public persona, and the various controversies that plagued his later life. At this point, with the second half reported to still be in development, it’s not clear just how much of Jackson’s career will be covered in the first movie, Michael.

In some ways, splitting the story may serve a dual purpose. The first half of Jackson’s life is widely viewed as inspirational, full of talent, ambition, and youthful triumph. The second half is messier and more divisive. By focusing initially on the more palatable chapters of his life, Lionsgate can potentially avoid some early backlash — while buying time to finesse the more difficult material.

When Lionsgate executives started hinting at pushing the project’s release into 2026, they cited a need for “creative fine-tuning.”

One thing is for certain: when it does finally hit theaters, Michael is bound to stir debate. To some, Jackson remains an iconic, misunderstood genius. To others, he’s a deeply flawed figure who used fame and power to escape accountability. With the film being made in close cooperation with the Jackson estate — which controls the rights to his music and image — it’s safe to assume Michael will present a largely sympathetic portrait. Whether that version of events rings true will be up to audiences to decide.

Until then, Michael remains one of the most anticipated — and most scrutinized — films in recent memory.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, the need for additional footage comes after the Jackson Estate and studio partners Lionsgate and Universal debated a legal issue concerning aspects of the film’s content. Given delays and confusion about what to omit and add to the anticipated biopic, Fuqua’s Michael could be split into two parts.

Per THR, a script for a potential second film still needs to be finalized, with footage from the June filming belonging to the first installment. Water cooler whispers say the film is undergoing “reshoots,” but that’s not entirely accurate. THR says filming is less about reshooting what’s already shot and more about shooting additional footage to make a complete feature-length film. According to sources, the new movie will now end with Jackson leaving the Jackson 5 after releasing his first studio album, Off the Wall.

A source close to the production denied the report then, saying, “The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos. 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 Michael includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Miles Teller as long-time lawyer John Branca, Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael Jackson, and Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the adult version of Michael. Antoine Fuqua is directing from a script by John Logan. We got our first look at Jaafar Jackson in costume as his famous uncle last year, and the likeness is pretty damn uncanny.

“Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop,” reads the official description. “The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.”

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“In regard to our Michael Jackson biopic, we’re excited about the 3½ hours of amazing footage from producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, and we will be announcing a definitive release strategy & timing in the next few weeks,” Feltheimer said during the studio’s quarterly earnings call. “I would note that it is likely we will move ‘Michael’ out of the fiscal year which will impact fiscal ’26 financial results but will bolster an already strong fiscal ’27 slate.” The fiscal calendar ends on March 31, 2026, so the film won’t be released until sometime after that.

There have also been rumblings that Michael could be split into two parts, which Feltheimer confirmed they’re considering. “At the end, when you look at the music library, when you look at what he was able to deliver in terms of contributions of music and to art, whether or not that can be fit into one movie comfortablly or not is a question that we are absolutely asking,” he said.

Production wrapped up in May 2024, but Variety says John Logan’s script “is in the process of being revised in advance of reshoots.” The extent of these reshoots is still unclear, but they could be significant. It was rumoured earlier this year that the film ran into an issue due to a legal agreement which stipulated that the alleged victim, Jordan Chandler, and his family could not be featured in any movies about Jackson’s life. That court battle is supposedly a major part of the third act, so how that was overlooked is a little confusing.

A source close to the production denied the report then, saying, “The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos. 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 Michael includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Miles Teller as long-time lawyer John Branca, Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael Jackson, and Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the adult version of Michael. Antoine Fuqua is directing from a script by John Logan. We got our first look at Jaafar Jackson in costume as his famous uncle last year, and the likeness is pretty damn uncanny.

“Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop,” reads the official description. “The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.”

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According to Deadline, there’s a chance that Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic might be split into two movies. Sources told the outlet that the current cut of Michael is close to four hours long. Splitting the project into two movies isn’t a sure thing, but it’s something they’re considering.

The film is currently slated to hit theaters on October 3rd, and the report also mentioned that it might not make that date. There were also rumblings earlier this year that the film would have to undergo significant rewrites and reshoots due to a legal agreement which stipulated that alleged victim Jordan Chandler and his family could not be featured in any movies about Jackson’s life. That court battle is a major part of the third act, so how that was overlooked is a little confusing.

A source close to the production refuted the report, saying, “The Michael Jackson biopic is not in total chaos. 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 Michael includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Miles Teller as long-time lawyer John Branca, Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael Jackson, and Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the adult version of Michael. Antoine Fuqua is directing from a script by John Logan. We got our first look at Jaafar Jackson in costume as his famous uncle last year, and the likeness is pretty damn uncanny. The production has the cooperation of the Jackson estate, which means that they’ll be able to use his music, but it remains to be seen how much of the famous singer’s troubles will be addressed.

“Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop,” reads the official description. “The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.”

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Annie, are you okay? You look like you might faint after producer Graham King turned up at CinemaCon to surprise the crowd with a first look at Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael. Said to be an emotionally intense depiction of the King of Pop, Michael is positioning itself as a HUGE event film. JoBlo’s editor-in-chief, Chris Bumbray, is in the crowd and says Michael will surely be controversial.

During his presentation, Graham said he knows everyone has an opinion about Michael Jackson, for good or ill. However, he did change the world of pop music forever, and his controversy made him a fascinating subject for Fuqua’s film. Graham also said Jackson was an enigma, but behind everything was a man with a very complicated, difficult life.

Michael contains 30 songs from Jackson’s legendary catalog. Next, a trailer played for the crowd, showing Jaafar Jackson as the Gloved One. Chris says he looks incredible in the role and NAILS the voice. The trailer shows Jackson at different stages of his life and how much he’d changed throughout the years.

The cast includes Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Miles Teller as long-time lawyer John Branca, Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael Jackson, and Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the adult version of Michael. Antoine Fuqua is directing from a script by John Logan. 

Additionally, Larenz Tate plays Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records and impresario. Kat Graham (The Vampire Diaries, The Parent Trap) plays the legendary Diana Ross, the lead singer of the chart-topping Motown group The Supremes. Jessica Sula (Split, Malum) plays Michael’s older sister, La Toya, the fifth child and middle daughter of the Jackson family, who first gained recognition in the mid-1970s on the family’s variety TV series “The Jacksons.” She launched a solo career, releasing multiple albums in the 1980s.

Liv Symone (Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Doing It Wrong) will play Gladys Knight, whose soulful voice and electric performances alongside her family (as the Pips) produced several #1 hits for Motown, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”; later, her signature song, “Midnight Train to Georgia,” would bring worldwide popularity to the Empress of Soul.

Kendrick Sampson (Fashionably Yours, Insecure) plays legendary, 28-time Grammy Awards-winning songwriter, composer, and producer Quincy Jones, who first met Michael when he was just 12 years old. The pair would go on to collaborate on three of Michael’s most successful albums: “Off the Wall” (1979), “Thriller” (1982), and “Bad” (1987).

KeiLyn Durrel Jones (How to Die Alone, Fear the Night) plays Bill Bray, whom Joe Jackson originally hired in the 1970s as security for the Jackson 5. Bray went on to work exclusively with Michael for nearly three decades, becoming one of his most trusted friends.

Finally, Kevin Shinick (Robot Chicken, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?) plays Dick Clark, host of “American Bandstand,” where the Jackson 5 made a legendary early appearance in their rise to fame.

The production cooperates with the Jackson estate, which means that they’ll be able to use his music, but it remains to be seen how much of the famous singer’s troubles will be addressed.

“Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became the King of Pop,” reads the official description. “The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.” Michael will hit theaters on April 18, 2025.

Are you excited about Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic? Are you surprised the film showed up at CinemaCon? Let us know in the comments below.

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