Michael Jackson’s "Michael" Trailer Looks Promising

On Thursday, the trailer for the highly-anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, captivated millions in less than a day. On the Lionsgate channel alone, the visual has garnered more than four million views — a remarkable feat, especially in an era when YouTube viewership can be low.

The binge-able trailer resonates for a few key reasons: most things involving Michael Jackson draw interest, the trailer is high-quality, and we’ve been hearing about this movie —the highs and the lows — for at least two years. And then there is the important and amazing fact that for a change, his nephew Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, portrays him. That alone is compelling! Do you know how cool that is? Ha, so booking cool.

The Jackson family is also involved behind the scenes, with MJ's son Prince serving as a producer, and matriarch Katherine Jackson approving the project. That said, his daughter Paris recently criticized the film.

Previous Michael Jackson biopics have been universally panned such as Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland (2017) and Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story (2004). There was even the infamous episode filmed for then anthology series, Urban Myths, where a white actor portrayed him. The episode was pulled.

Michael, due next Spring, feels different in that you get the sense it might actually do the King of Pop justice.

Still, as someone close to me pointed out, Michael’s life is so extraordinary that it’s almost impossible to capture with full accuracy. That’s the challenge with any biopic. A trailblazer renowned for his high-level showmanship, humanitarian efforts, and legal battles, to name a few— his story is as riveting as it is heartbreaking. It is full of inspiration, innovation, and sadness.

On a lighter note, here’s a fun fact: Jaafar is a singer himself. He released the single “Got Me Singing” in 2019, and of course it’s gaining traction again now. While the song had its moment, it didn’t lead to more releases at the time. But look at him now.

Helmed by Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer, Training Day, The Magnificent Seven) and produced by Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Aviator, The Departed), Michael is scheduled for a theatrical release on April 24, 2026.

Are you planning to see it?