The Golden Globes declined Lionsgate’s request to have the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” compete in the comedy or musical category at the upcoming awards ceremony. The film, starring Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, will now compete in the drama categories alongside titles including Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” and “La Bola Negra.” The ruling does not affect supporting actor and actress nominations, allowing co-stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long to compete in their respective categories regardless of genre designation.
Director Antoine Fuqua submitted a letter in support of the comedy or musical classification as required by Golden Globes procedure when a film seeks consideration outside its typical category. Despite this submission, the organization’s review process resulted in a denial. Lionsgate retains the option to appeal the decision before the Oct. 31 submission deadline, though sources indicated the studio may not pursue this course.
The classification of musical biopics has proven contentious at the Golden Globes historically. Earlier films like “Ray” and “Walk the Line” successfully competed as comedies or musicals in the mid-2000s, but those victories prompted a rule change establishing that musical elements must advance the narrative rather than function as standalone performances. More recent music biopics including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Elvis,” and “A Complete Unknown” have all been submitted as dramas under this stricter standard. The organization apparently determined that sequences in “Michael” featuring performances of the artist’s well-known songs constituted recreations rather than integral storytelling components.
The film, which opened in April, achieved significant commercial success and became Lionsgate’s largest release ever. The 84th Golden Globe nominations will be announced Dec. 7, with the ceremony scheduled for Jan. 10 and hosted by Nikki Glaser.
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