January 11 : Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, is getting a global release. Lionsgate is releasing the movie stateside on April 18, 2025, with Universal is handling overseas distribution. Today, Lionsgate announced that it was beginning production on director Antoine Fuqua’s Michael on January 22.
January 18 : Pre-Prod
January 19 : The very first promotional image from #MichaelMovie is released on social medias. A picture of Jaafar Jackson taken by his brother Jourdynn dancing at Hayvenhurst. Jaafar writes : “The Journey Starts Monday”.
January 20 : John Logan on Instagram : “My seven years with Michael Jackson continues on Monday. First day of shooting. Shamone!”
January 22 : First day of production for #MichaelMovie in Los Angeles. Prince Jackson shares a story on Instagram : “starting production today!”
January 30 : Nia Long is joining the Jackson family. The actor will star in Michael, the biopic of late pop star Michael Jackson. Long will portray Katherine Jackson, family matriarch to the Jackson musical family, Lionsgate announced Tuesday. Director Antoine Fuqua praised Long in a statement, saying he was excited to “work alongside her as she pours all of that into Katherine Jackson: a woman who was the glue, the rock, and the heart of the Jackson family during its best and its most turbulent times.”
February 06 : Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International have made it official : Miles Teller is joining Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael. The attorney that Teller will be playing is John Branca, who shepherded the King of Pop’s career as he transitioned from a singing sensation in a boy band to world-renowned mega star. Branca is also producing the movie with John McClain; they are co-executors of Jackson’s estate.
February 10 : Who is playing Jackie and Jermaine Jackson in the upcoming biopic
February 13 : Prince Jackson shares a new pic of Jaafar as Michael : “Super excited to share with y’all the first look of #MichaelMovie starring my cousin @jaafarjackson! This project has had so many special moments for me and everyone involved. This photo was taken by my dad’s concert photographer @kevinmazur who was there for my dad’s last rehearsal and Jaafar’s first performance! Thanks everyone one for the birthday wishes! Special thanks to my cousin @jaafarjackson watching you perform and work your butt off is the closest I’ll ever come to watching my dad in concert and it’s been a dream come true! Proud of you cuz!” . The same picture of Jaafar is shared by many accounts (MJ Estate, GK Films, Antoine Fuqua, Lionsgate, Kevin Mazur etc.).
February 15 : Siedah Garett shares (and deletes later) pics of her on the set of #MichaelMovie : “Grateful to have been invited to visit the set of the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic to witness his nephew Jafaar performing my song Man in the Mirror. Goosebumps! “.
New pics of Jaafar on set : Jaafar was in full hair, makeup and costume Thursday on location in the Encino area of Los Angeles, where cameras were rolling for “Michael” … the first official film to tackle the MJ’s life on the big screen. Nia Long joined Jaafar on set here on Thursday … remember, she’s playing Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson. She’s also fully transformed — and pretty unrecognizable.
February 16 : New pics of Jaafar on set : Some people in L.A. probably did a double take Friday thinking they saw Michael Jackson walking around. But it was actually the spitting image of the late “King of Pop” — namely his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who was on his way to shoot scenes for MJ’s upcoming biopic, “Michael.”. Check out these photos, obtained by TMZ, which show Jaafar on the movie set, sporting MJ’s famous red varsity jacket next to a Tower Records pop-up shop and a huge ad promoting the entertainer’s 1979 album, “Off The Wall “
February 24 : Colman Domingo shares his experience filming for the Michael Jackson biopic at SAG Award : “I saw the Victory tour being shot & I lost my mind. They shot “Man in the Mirror” and it was something SPIRITUAL that went thru the entire cast and crew”.
March 15 : Prince Jackson and John Branca are spotted on the set of the upcoming Michael Jackson Biopic in Los Angeles.
March 18-22 : Pre production at Hayvenhurst for Michael Movie.
March 23 : Filming on the Toys R Us set of the Michael Jackson biopic takes place in Burbank, California.
March 25 : Filming begins at Hayvenhurst for Michael Movie.
Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Adds 7 To Cast :
April 01 : Michael jackson biopic adds Allan Wayne Anderson as Andy Warhol, who was commissioned to create the iconic cover for the March 19, 1984, edition of Time.
April 02 : Michael jackson biopic adds Jason Pfister as Halston, an American fashion designer who rose to international fame in the 1970s.
April 09 : Filming for the MJ BIOPIC takes place at Wilshire Blvd – Center West Set.
April 10 : Filming for the MJ BIOPIC takes place at Lorraine Blvd – Unnamed Set.
“Michael” Trailer debuts at CinemaCon
Post-Prod begins.
April 12 : Filming of the scene “Studio 54 arrival” for #MichaelMovie takes place at Broadway Street – Million Dollar Theater Set.
Peyton Riley McConville confirms on Instagram that she plays Paris Jackson in #MichaelMovie.
April 15 : First day of production/filming at Neverland for Michael Movie.
April 18 : gkfilms, the film company founded by Oscar-winning producer Graham King shares a pic from the Neverland gates : “See you next year, moonwalkers”.
April 22 : New pictures of Neverland ranch which has been restored to its former glory for the Michael Jackson biopic.
April 24 : Andy Warhol & Johnnie Cochran cast for the Biopic.
April 25 : George Hammonds III will play young Taj Jackson in the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic.
April 27 : According to Frank Dileo’s daughter, Belinda Dileo, her father will not be mentioned in the upcoming Michael Jackson Biopic.
Neverland Ranch Police Raid recreated for the biopic : A photo of movie police cars lined up at former Neverland Ranch have been seen on social media. From the type of police cars, it seems that it will be the first police raid on the ranch in 1993 following the Chandler scandal.
May 01 : Filming wraps today on the Michael Jackson biopic on the set of Neverland.
May 04 : Jaafar is spotted at the AT&T Centre in Los Angeles on the top of a car wearing a replica of the one Michael wore during the Victory Tour Press conference in 1983 at Tavern on the Green in New York City.
May 05 : Jennifer Batten : ‘Prince Jackson invited me to the set of the biopic coming out in April 2025. I was able to see the girl who plays my role. She has the same hair, and they made a replica of the guitar I had at the time. It’s going to be huge!’”.
May 07 : Joey Barbella is the new cast member playing mob boss John Gotti for the Michael Jackson biopic (source: IMDb). According to FBI files, a suspect who claimed to be John Gotti’s son, threatened MJ with mass m#rder at his concert & personal harm if not paid.
Colman Domingo says he’s been filming Michael Movie the whole day in California after a long night of Met Gala festivities.
May 22 : Filming of scenes at the Biltmore Hotel Parking Lot for Michael Movie.
May 30 : Last day of filming (Day 91) for #MichaelMovie. GK Films have posted a short instagram video stated: “And that’s a wrap! Thank you to the best cast and crew we could ever ask for!” Also Jaafar Jackson’s socials have posted the following: “Filming for the highly anticipated biopic “MICHAEL,” featuring the phenomenal Jaafar Jackson as his legendary uncle Michael Jackson, wrapped up on May 30th, 2024. The entire cast and crew of GK Films, along with everyone involved, did an outstanding job. Now, the wait begins for April 18th, 2025. Brace yourself: we might not be ready for this one!”
June 01 : Prince Jackson shares stories from the wrap-up party for the Michael Jackson biopic : “Wrapped Principle photography on the #MichaelMovie. Thanks to all the cast and crew who made it a once in a lifetime experience!”.
June 06 : Michael Jackson Biopic Will “Be the Biggest Movie We’ve Ever Had,” Lionsgate Exec Says
June 18 : CineEurope taking place between 17 and 20 June 2024 in Barcelona, has the privilege to have a look at an early version trailer, the same as the one played at CinemaCon last April in Las Vegas. Michael producer Graham King presented the five-minute clip, which focussed on the making of Jackson’s Thriller video. It’s been in development for seven years, said King, and that production has finally wrapped. Antoine Fuqua, Michael director, is currently hard at work editing the film along with his team. If it’s anything like the clip audiences saw, it’ll be worth the wait.
June 21 : According to IMDb, Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. will serve as the music executive producer for post-production of the Michael Jackson biopic.
July 23 : Another cast member of the upcoming biopic “Michael” has been revealed. David Michael Lewin will play the role of legendary Bruce Swedien.
July 26 : Antoine Fuqua on #MichaelMovie : “I’m in the early stages of editing the film right now. Just wrapped May 30. Very excited about it. I’m very happy with what we’ve got in the can,” Fuqua told the Comic-Con audience. “Michael was a big part of my life growing up, a big influence, but he was a human being, and we’re exploring that.”
August 14 : Post-Prod.
October 08 : Post-Prod.
October 30 : Lionsgate expects a box office that exceeds the $2B mark worldwide
November 05 : Michael Jackson Biopic Moonwalks To Fall 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate‘s Antoine Fuqua directed Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is moving out of next year’s Easter frame of April 18-20 and to Oct. 3, 2025. Universal is handling the overseas release of the movie which stars the King of Pop’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the title role. The Graham King produced Michael is now positioned in the awards corridor next year. Previously, King’s Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, opened on Nov. 2, 2018 to $51M stateside and went on to gross $216.4M stateside and $903.6M worldwide plus four Oscar wins.
Jackson Dynasty 