‘Michael’ Sets Streaming Release Date After Billion-Dollar Box Office Run
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- "Michael" begins streaming on Starz on Aug. 10 after its April 24 theatrical release grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, making it one of 2026's biggest hits
- Antoine Fuqua directs the biopic, written by John Logan, chronicling Jackson's rise from the Jackson 5 in the 1960s through his late-1980s "Bad" tour
- Jaafar Jackson (Michael's nephew) makes his film debut as the adult Jackson, with Juliano Valdi playing the young Michael in his own debut
- The ensemble cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca, and Laura Harrier as music producer Suzanne de Passe
- Kat Graham portrays Diana Ross and Larenz Tate plays Motown founder Berry Gordy, while Jackson's siblings are played by Jamal R. Henderson (Jermaine), Tre' Horton (Marlon), Rhyan Hill (Tito), Joseph David-Jones (Jackie), and Jessica Sula (LaToya)
- Lionsgate first announced the film in February 2022, with Fuqua and Jaafar joining the project in February 2023
- Variety critic Owen Gleiberman praised Jaafar for nailing "the look, the voice, the electrostatic moves" and suggested "Michael" could spawn Lionsgate's first biopic franchise, with a sequel expected to be confirmed
Why it matters: With a $1 billion theatrical run, "Michael" ranks among 2026's biggest hits, and Variety critic Owen Gleiberman's assessment that it could launch Lionsgate's first biopic franchise—with a sequel already expected to be confirmed—signals the studio is betting on a repeat-casting model anchored by Jaafar Jackson's debut performance.
