The Michael Jackson biopic that conquered the global box office has hit an unexpected obstacle on the road to the Golden Globes. The Golden Globes committee has rejected Lionsgate’s bid to submit Michael, the Antoine Fuqua-directed biopic starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, in the musical or comedy categories.
The decision, first reported by Gold Derby and confirmed by Variety and TheWrap, means the film will compete in the drama categories at the 84th Golden Globes, where nominations will be announced on December 7. Jaafar Jackson, who plays his uncle, will likewise compete in the lead actor in a drama category.
It is a significant blow to the film’s awards strategy. The musical/comedy categories are traditionally seen as a less crowded path for biopics built around musical performance. In drama, the Michael Jackson biopic faces what observers are calling a far more punishing field, including Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, with Matt Damon among the expected nominees.
Why the Michael Jackson biopic was rejected from musical/comedy
The Golden Globes’ rules state that a musical can be a comedy or a drama in which songs are used in addition to spoken dialogue to further the plot. The committee reviewing the submission concluded that the musical performances in the Michael Jackson biopic did not meet that criterion of driving the narrative, according to Gold Derby.
That conclusion stands out because the Globes’ committee usually defers to a studio’s choice of category. In this case, members believed the sheer volume of musical sequences was not enough: the question, per the rulebook, is how music functions within the storytelling rather than how much of it the film contains. Lionsgate had submitted a letter from director Antoine Fuqua laying out the case, as required when a film’s category goes against the grain.
The decision places the Michael Jackson biopic in line with recent music biopics. Since the Globes tightened their rules after Ray and Walk the Line won as musicals in 2005 and 2006, films including Bohemian Rhapsody, Elvis and A Complete Unknown all competed as dramas. Notably, the horror film Obsession and the dramedy Tender Loving Care have already been accepted in the comedy categories this year.
What the Michael Jackson biopic’s drama slot means for its stars
For Jaafar Jackson, the ruling could define his entire awards season. The actor, who has the strongest nomination chance of the film’s cast, must now fight for one of the limited drama acting slots against established contenders including Matt Damon (The Odyssey), John Malkovich (Wild Horse Nine) and Andrew Scott (Elsinore).
The good news for its supporting cast is that the supporting acting categories are not split by genre, so the decision has no effect on the campaigns of co-stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long. Their paths remain unchanged regardless of where the film itself lands.
Lionsgate can still appeal the ruling before the October 31 submission deadline, which would send the case back to the organisation’s awards committee. However, Gold Derby reported that an appeal is unlikely to be pursued. Lionsgate declined to comment on the decision.
The Michael Jackson biopic’s awards run after a record year
The awards drama caps a remarkable year for the Michael Jackson biopic. Released in April, Michael overcame negative reviews and what reports described as a tortured production to become the first biopic to gross $1 billion worldwide, and the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time.
The film’s producers are already looking past the awards season. Lionsgate is reportedly targeting late 2027 or early 2028 for a sequel, which Jaafar Jackson said will address the child sexual abuse allegations against his uncle from the family’s point of view.
The ceremony is scheduled for January 10, 2027, with Nikki Glaser returning as host. Whether the Michael Jackson biopic leaves that night as a drama contender or a footnote will depend on how decisively the industry embraces a film that has already divided critics and captivated audiences in equal measure.