In a first glimpse of the much-anticipated biopic, “Michael,” Jaafar Jackson is flawlessly transformed into his uncle, Michael Jackson.
The upcoming biopic, which comes to theaters in 2026, features Jaafar Jackson — who is the son of Michael Jackson’s brother, Jermaine — recreating several memorable performances from the King of Pop’s prolific career, such as his “Thriller” music video.
The first-look trailer opens with the singer in the studio with 28-time Grammy Award-winning producer Quincy Jones (Kendrick Sampson), who says, “I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this. The tracks are made, the songs are ready. Let’s take it from the top.”
Scenes from Jackson’s early career, childhood and personal life follow, and Jaafar proves to be more than capable of replicating the “Billie Jean” singer’s signature dance moves.
“The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world,” producers for “Michael” shared in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter.
“Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.”
Starring alongside Jaafar Jackson are Colman Domingo as his father Joe Jackson, Nia Long as his mother Katherine Jackson, Kat Graham as Motown star Diana Ross and Miles Teller as his attorney and adviser John Branca.
The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, who is known for his work on the “Equalizer” film series. Producers for the film are John Branca, Graham King and John Mackay.
Filmmakers said they will not shy away from controversy surrounding the late pop star. During CinemaCon appearances last year, Fuqua promised fans the film would dive into “all of it” and produce “an adaptive, authentic portrayal” of the singer, per Entertainment Weekly.
“Michael’s life was complicated,” King, one of the film’s producers, said about the project, per The Guardian. “As a film-maker, I look to humanize but not sanitize and present the most compelling, unbiased story I can capture in a single feature film and let the audience decide how they feel after watching it. Michael clearly remains an impactful, culturally relevant artist with a life and legacy worth exploring.”
Fans give positive response to ‘Michael’ teaser
Michael Jackson fans shared an overwhelmingly positive response to the brief first-look at “Michael.” One fan claimed the upcoming movie has the “full potential to be one of the best biopic ever made,” per X.
Here is what some people are saying about the new “Michael” teaser trailer.
When does ‘Michael’ come out?
“Michael” comes to theaters Friday, April 24, 2026. It is not yet rated.