Latest news with #JaafarJackson


Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Michael Jackson biopic starring late star's nephew is delayed AGAIN after legal debacle and major reshoots
The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic from Lionsgate, starring the late King of Pop's nephew Jaafar Jackson, has been delayed for a third time. The highly-anticipated movie about the Thriller artist is not slated to arrive in theaters worldwide on Friday, April 24, 2026, sources told Deadline Wednesday. The Antoine Fuqua-directed movie, titled Michael, was initially expected in theaters on April 18 of this year, and then pushed back to October 3. Insiders told Deadline that a second motion picture about the musical artist, who died at the age of 50 in June of 2009, currently is in the development process. Jaafar, who is the son of Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza, filmed scenes for the biopic last year in Los Angeles. He filmed a sequence recreating the iconic Thriller video in March of 2024 in Encino, California; and in May of 2024 in downtown Los Angeles. A trailer for the film aired to a strong reaction in April 2024 at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. In the preview, a voice attributed to that of his mother Katherine Jackson could be heard giving her son words of encouragement. 'There might be some people who think you're different and that's gonna make life a little harder for you,' she said. She continued: 'But you never were like anyone else - Michael, you have a very special light - so make that light shine onto the world.' A voice attributed to Michael Jackson is heard saying, 'When I'm not onstage everything feels foreign to me.' The film is expected to cover all aspects of Jackson's life and career, including his legal issues. Among them include the 1993 lawsuit he settled accusing him of sexual abuse of a child, which he eventually settled. He also faced trial in Santa Barbara, California in 2005 in connection with separate claims of child sexual abuse, of which he was acquitted. The movie also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long in the roles of Jackson's parents Joe and Katherine Jackson. Rounding out the cast include Miles Teller, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Larenz Tate and Jessica Sula.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Jackson Biopic Moves to April
The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' will open in standard theaters and in Imax worldwide on April 24, moving from its earlier October date. Lionsgate is releasing the film domestically, with Universal handling distribution in the rest of the world except for Japan, which is handled by Kino Films. More from Variety Michael Jackson Biopic 'Likely' to Move to 2026 Michael Jackson Biopic Likely Splitting into Two Movies and Delaying Release Date 'Leaving Neverland' Director Dan Reed on Making a Sequel About Michael Jackson Allegations: 'My Goal Is Not to Knock Him Off His Pedestal - It Never Has Been' Antoine Fuqua directs, with John Logan as screenwriter and Jaafar Jackson starring as his late uncle. Graham King, an Oscar winner for 'The Departed,' produces. ''Michael' explores the global superstar's journey to become known to the world as the King of Pop, presenting an intimate look at the life and enduring legacy of one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known,' the synopsis reads. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said in May that the movie was 'likely' to move to 2026. Although it wrapped production in May 2024, the project underwent reshoots and came in with a lengthy initial cut. Earlier, there had been discussion about releasing the film in two parts. The film was last reported to carry a $155 million production budget. 'Michael' also stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long as family heads Joe and Katherine Jackson. Miles Teller plays John Branca, Jackson's attorney and advisor. Larenz Tate plays Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, with Laura Harrier as music executive Suzanne de Passe and Kat Graham will appear as Diana Ross. Other cast members include Jessica Sula as La Toya Jackson, Michael's older sister; Liv Symone as Gladys Knight; Kevin Shinick as Dick Clark; KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Jackson's former security-turned-trusted friend and confidante Bill Bray; and Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones, who first met Michael Jackson when he was just 12 years old. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lionsgate & Universal's Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael' Moves To Pre-Summer 2026
Lionsgate and Universal's Michael Jackson biopic Michael is officially moving to Friday, April 24, 2026, and that's a global theatrical release. At the same time, we hear that a second movie about Jackson remains in development. More from Deadline 'Good Fortune' Trailer: Aziz Ansari Comedy With Keanu Reeves & Seth Rogen Headed For TIFF Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden's 'Freaky Tales' Sets HBO Max Premiere Date Lionsgate Marketing Heads JP Richards And Keri Moore Exiting Company We told you at CinemaCon there were distribution plans afoot for this on the Antoine Fuqua directed, Graham King produced feature. Michael will also get a release on Imax screens. The delay with Michael has been twofold, one being length — there was a first cut in excess of three and a half hours. There have also been reports that the initial cut of the movie made references to 13-year old Jordan Chandler, who accused Jackson of molestation, and who the pop singer settled with for $20M in 1994 with no admission of guilt. The Jackson estate explicitly wanted nothing about Chandler in the film, which led to more shoots on the production. Three-time Oscar nominee John Logan penned the screenplay. Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, plays the King of Pop. Currently, there aren't any major studio wide entries on April 24 next year, hence a great choice for Lionsgate. Michael will open in the wake of New Line/Blumhouse's Lee Cronin's The Mummy and Amazon MGM Studios/Miramax's Liam Neeson starring, Frankie Shaw directed 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank on April 17. Michael will also precede the May 1 release of 20th Century Studios' The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Warner Bros/Legenary's Animal Friends. This is the third time that Michael has moved. The pic's first release date was April 18, 2025 then Oct. 3, 2025. Oscar winner King's previous music biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, won four Oscars and grossed over $910M at the worldwide box office. Kino Films is releasing the movie in Japan while Universal has the rest of the world. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Season 3 Of 'Euphoria' So Far 'Wednesday' Season 2: Everything We Know About The Cast, Premiere Date & More Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far


Perth Now
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Michael Jackson biopic facing yet another delay
The Michael Jackson biopic is facing another delay. Jaafar Jackson is set to star as the singer in the movie, but Lionsgate have now confirmed the film will not be released as originally scheduled in 2025. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, it is now expected to premiere after April 1, 2026, according to Variety. The update was shared by Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer during the company's Q4 2025 earnings call. He said in a statement: 'In regard to our Michael Jackson biopic, we're excited about the three-and-a-half hours of amazing footage from producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, and we will be announcing a definitive release strategy and timing in the next few weeks. '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 2027 slate.' The biopic stars 27-year-old Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of the late singer, and marks his first major acting role. While 'Michael' had been a centrepiece of Lionsgate's 2023 CinemaCon presentation, no footage was shown at this year's event. The film's initial release was planned for 3 October 2025. But Variety last month reported the project may be split into two parts, contributing to the postponement. Filming for 'Michael' wrapped principal photography in May 2024, but the script, written by John Logan, is currently undergoing revisions ahead of planned reshoots. The production carries a reported budget of around $155 million. In addition to Jaafar, the cast features 54-year-old Colman Domingo and 53-year-old Nia Long as Michael Jackson's parents, Joe and Katherine Jackson. Miles Teller, 37, plays John Branca, the artist's longtime attorney and advisor. And Larenz Tate, 48, will appear as Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, while 34-year-old Laura Harrier plays Suzanne de Passe, a pioneering female music executive. Kat Graham, 35, portrays Diana Ross. The ensemble cast also includes 28-year-old Jessica Sula as La Toya Jackson, Liv Symone as Gladys Knight, 54-year-old Kevin Shinick as Dick Clark, KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Bill Bray, and 36-year-old Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones. Michael and Quincy Jones famously collaborated on the albums Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987.)


New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Michael Jackson's biopic seemingly pushed to 2026
The film, titled Michael, stars Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson as Michael with Colman Domingo and Nia Long as Michael Jackson's parents According to reports, the release of the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has been pushed to 2026. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is known for his collaborations with Denzel Washington. Jon Feltheimer, CEO of Lionsgate, the studio behind the film, shared that 'a definitive release strategy and timing' will be announced in the next few weeks. But the release of the film will be moved out of the 2026 fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2026. Michael is the feature film debut of Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson, who will play Michael in the film. The rest of the cast includes Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Larenz Tate, Laura Harrier, Kat Graham, Jessica Sula, Liv Symone, Kevin Shinick, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, and Kendrick Sampson. With Fuqua in the director's chair, Michael is produced by John Branca and John McClain, alongside Graham King. Lionsgate is the studio backing the film.