Golden Globes reject Michael's bid to compete as a musical
The Golden Globes denied Lionsgate's request to enter its Michael Jackson biopic Michael in the comedy or musical categories, Variety confirmed Tuesday, so the film is set to compete in drama against titles including Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey.
AI-assisted · US Brief desk · Sources listed below
What happened
The Golden Globes denied Lionsgate's request to enter Michael, its Michael Jackson biopic starring Jaafar Jackson, in the comedy or musical categories, Variety confirmed Tuesday after Gold Derby first reported it. The studio's submission included a letter from director Antoine Fuqua, which the Globes require for an unusual category bid. The organization reviewed it and said no.
Why it matters
Michael is now slated for the drama categories, where it would compete for one of six slots against films including Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and Los Javis' La Bola Negra, Variety said. Jaafar Jackson would compete for lead actor in a drama, where TheWrap lists Matt Damon (The Odyssey), John Malkovich (Wild Horse Nine) and Andrew Scott (Elsinore) as likely nominees. Supporting categories are not split by genre, so co-stars Colman Domingo and Nia Long are unaffected.
What’s next
Lionsgate can appeal before the Oct. 31 submission deadline, and the Globes' awards committee would review it. Sources told Variety an appeal likely will not be pursued. Lionsgate declined to comment.
More context
Primary document: Variety quoted the Globes rule at issue: "A musical can be a comedy or a drama in which songs are used in addition to spoken dialogue to further the plot." TheWrap said it appears the committee felt the film's musical numbers do not drive the story, despite Fuqua's letter.
Context: Michael is Lionsgate's biggest film at the box office and the first biopic to gross more than $1 billion in theaters, Variety reported. The ruling lands the same day Bloomberg reported a takeover offer for Lionsgate from Legendary Entertainment, which US Brief covers separately.
Precedent: Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) and Elvis (2022) also competed at the Globes as dramas, TheWrap noted, while Ray and Walk the Line competed as musicals in 2005 and 2006, before the Globes changed its rule.
What's still unknown: Whether Lionsgate files an appeal. Nominations for the 84th Golden Globes are due Dec. 7, and the ceremony airs Jan. 10, TheWrap reported.
5 listed sources
- Variety, Oct. 20, 2026
- Gold Derby, Oct. 20, 2026
- TheWrap, Oct. 20, 2026
- Billboard, Oct. 20, 2026
- Variety, Oct. 20, 2026 (Lionsgate results context)
References listed by US Brief; a source count is not a verification score.
Editorial sourcing notes
Hero photo shows Jaafar Jackson in Cannes in May 2026 (file photo), not at a Globes event. No movie stills used.
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