24-05-2025
Michael Jackson biopic likely Moonwalking to 2026
Despite the palpable audience demand for more pop music in movie theaters, moviegoers will likely have to wait another year for at least one Bad biopic. Per Variety, executives at Lionsgate say that Michael, the Antoine Fuqua biopic about the extremely normal and uncomplicated life and times of Michael Jackson, will likely move to a 2026 release date. You can practically hear the crowds of people shamoan-ing in anguish over the decision. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer stated during the studio's Q4 2025 earnings call that they have seen '3½ hours of amazing footage' and will give a more concrete release date next week. However, the studio will likely move Michael 'out of the fiscal year, which will impact fiscal '26 financial results but will bolster an already strong fiscal '27 slate.' The film was initially set to bow in October 2025.
Of course, do you remember the time five months ago when Puck reported that the film was having third-act problems, namely over how to handle the child sexual abuse allegations Jackson faced over the final 20 years of his life. According to that report, the film 'directly engages with the allegations against Jackson. And it not only engages, it wants very much to convince you Michael is innocent.' The script included a scene in which the Jackson family discusses paying off Jordan Chandler, who accused Jackson of child sexual abuse in 1993. The Jacksons and Chandlers settled out of court for a reported $25 million and an agreement that the Chandlers would not appear in any dramatizations. Unfortunately for those looking to finally clear Jackson's name in a biopic starring his nephew, the scenes were reportedly already shot and have since been scrapped as the filmmakers searched for a new happy ending to Michael Jackson's life. Those reports were contested by anonymous production sources to People, who said, '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 following month, Deadline reported that the film would be split into two movies, presumably titled HIStory Begins and HIStory Continues. Alas, it sounds more like HIStory Delayed.
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