The King of Pop is getting his close-up.
After years of development drama and multiple delays, the first trailer for Michael Jackson biopic, ‘Michael,’ has finally dropped, giving fans their first glimpse at Jaafar Jackson embodying his legendary uncle.
The footage showcases the 29-year-old recreating some of the icon’s most unforgettable moments, from the moonwalk to the ‘Thriller’ video, and it’s already sparking conversation across social media.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the biopic has had a bumpy road to the screen. Originally scheduled for April 2025, then pushed to October 2025, the film now arrives April 24, 2026. The delays reportedly stemmed from legal complications involving dramatization rights and a runtime that initially clocked in at over three and a half hours. Lionsgate even considered splitting it into two films at one point.
The star-studded cast includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as attorney John Branca. The film traces the performer’s journey from his Jackson 5 days through his rise to becoming one of the most influential entertainers in history. Notably absent from the trailer is any mention of the controversies that plagued the late singer’s life, though how the final film handles those elements remains to be seen.
With the nephew stepping into those iconic shoes and a script from three-time Oscar nominee John Logan, expectations are sky-high. Whether it can capture the magic and complexity of its subject when it hits theaters next spring is the billion-dollar question.
Amazing!
