‘Michael’ Sets Streaming Release Date After Billion-Dollar Box Office Run
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- "Michael" begins streaming on Starz on Aug. 10, following its April 24 theatrical release.
- The Michael Jackson biopic grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, ranking among the biggest hits of 2026.
- Antoine Fuqua directs from a John Logan screenplay, chronicling Jackson's rise from the Jackson 5 in the 1960s through his "Bad" tour in the late 1980s.
- Jaafar Jackson, Michael's nephew, plays the adult singer in his film debut, with Juliano Valdi portraying young Michael.
- The ensemble cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.
- Lionsgate is actively developing a sequel after Variety's Owen Gleiberman praised Jaafar's performance and suggested the film could become the first biopic to launch a franchise.
Why it matters: For Lionsgate, a $1 billion theatrical run combined with a confirmed sequel-in-development makes "Michael" a rare franchise-launching biopic, not just a one-off prestige release. The Aug. 10 Starz streaming window opens a second revenue stream while Jaafar Jackson's debut performance gives the studio a built-in lead for follow-up installments.
